The Soul of City: Fritz Puppel, 2017
Photo: dpa/Fabian Stoffers
“Free from musical vanities,” Fritz Puppel always put himself aside and was inspired by the idea of creating City, says singer Toni Krahl, paying tribute to his friend and colleague in the band City. As has now been announced, Fritz Puppel died on February 10th at the age of 79.
On April 10th, his bandmates want to remember him publicly at 2 p.m. in the celebration hall of the Berlin-Baumschulenweg crematorium. At his request, Puppel will be buried in the immediate family circle, it is said.
Toni Krahl was the face of the band. But Fritz Puppel is described as her soul. He led City “through all the ups and downs for 50 years” until the farewell concert on December 30, 2022. No one else was always there from its founding in 1972 until the end. Toni Krahl only joined in 1975, when the Bulgarian singer Emil Bogdanow moved to Sweden. The second Bulgarian, Georgi Gogow, created the greatest success “Am Fenster” (1978) with his violin. But he left in 1982 and only returned in 1992, so he was missing from the second biggest success “Casablanca” in 1987. Gogow was also not a founding member – nor was drummer Klaus Selmke, who died in 2020.
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Fritz Puppel and Dieter “Machine” Birr made music together in the 1960s until both were drafted into military service. They remained friends for life. Puppel became famous with City, Birr with the Puhdys. Both formations are among the four or five most important Eastern rock bands. Puppel played guitar and composed. Puppel touched millions of people with his music, which “will endure beyond anything earthly,” according to the band’s obituary.
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