Carl Crack

Who was Carl Crack?

Carl Crack was a Berlin-based techno artist best known for his membership in the digital hardcore band Atari Teenage Riot from 1992 to 2000.

Around 1992 Crack displayed little interest in the music scene as it was at the time. He felt that The Beatnigs were one of the few significant bands around. Along with the other members of Atari Teenage Riot he was looking for a new direction.

Crack initially had a significant influence on ATR’s style, particularly on the first two albums where he developed an MC style which owed less to the U.S. than his own imagination. He also had his own musical ideas that could not be expressed within the confines of a group, leading to his only solo release, 1998's Black Ark. It is, as the name suggests, heavily influenced by dub and in particular Lee Perry.

After heavy touring to promote ATR’s third album, 60 Second Wipe Out, the members of the group commenced work on follow ups to their various solo projects. Crack appeared on Cobra Killer's 2002 album, The Third Armpit. He also was part of Firewire and Whatever, both with Din-St.