Let’s face it, any announcement from Madonna is an exciting one. Whether it’s a whole album or a fresh remix of an old single, we’ll always be here for the Queen of Pop. That said, this latest announcement is exciting for reasons of its own. First, it allows us to discuss the career of another iconic musician and one of Madonna’s favorite long-term collaborators: Peter Rauhofer.
Also known as Club 69 and Size Queen, Rauhofer was a DJ, remixer, and producer whose lengthy career saw him collaborate with artists such as Whitney Huston, Britney Spears, Duran Duran, and Depeche Mode, to name a few. And, of course, among that list were several Madonna remixes, including, perhaps most famously, his remix of “Nothing Really Matters,” which helped him to win the Grammy Award for Best Remixer of the year in 2000.
In 2013, Rauhofer died of a brain tumor, and the music world lost one of its most creative and transformative artists.
What To Expect From The Upcoming Project
The American Life Mixshow Mix is set to release as a vinyl exclusive on the 22nd of April. With 8 tracks featuring six new edits, the release will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the American Life album and the life and career of Peter Rauhofer.
For all you major Madonna fans looking to buy this instant collector’s item, the track list will be as follows:
1. American Life (Peter Rauhofer’s American Anthem New Edit)
2. Hollywood (Deepsky’s Home Sweet Home Vocal Edit)
3. Love Profusion (Ralphi Rosario House Vocal Mix)
4. Nobody Knows Me (Peter Rauhofer’s Private Life Edit)
5. Nothing Fails (Peter Rauhofer’s Classic House New Edit)
6. Mother And Father (Peter Rauhofer’s Re-Invention Edit)
7. Die Another Day (Thunderpuss Club Edit)
8. Easy Ride (Tracy Young’s Easy Edit)
The Life Of Peter Rauhofer
Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, Rauhofer first found music at a small record store where he worked during the ‘70s. This inspiration led him to become a DJ, and before long, he found himself working for the Austrian label GIG records as an international A&R director. This job opened doors for him, and from there, it was only a matter of time before he found his way onto the world stage.
He made a big name in America as a resident DJ for the gay dance night at the Roxy in New York, Known for playing gay events. Rauhofer’s on-stage career saw him pioneering the tribal house and progressive house genres. At the same time, as a producer, he headed up the Star 69 label and was responsible for many of their releases.
It’s hard to understate just how influential his remixes were, but within the music world, he was a prevalent figure, and his death was met with much sadness. Memorials were held across the United States, and many events honored him throughout 2013.
In terms of Madonna herself, it’s clear that his work – particularly his unique tribal house sound – had a significant influence on the American Girl era of her career. So it seems only fitting that she honored this album by honoring Rauhofer. According to the official Madonna website press release, a portion of the sales from this album will be donated to brain cancer research.
