Musician Harry Jeske, bassist and co-founder of the famous GDR band Puhdys, has died at the age of 82.
Harry Jeske, founding member and until 1997 bass player of the GDR rock band Puhdys ("Puhdys in Rock"), is dead. According to a report by the "Berliner Kurier", he died last Thursday at the age of 82. The former manager of the band founded in 1969, Rolf Henning, has since confirmed the news.
The last time Jeske was seen in public at a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the band last year. At that time he was already dependent on a wheelchair due to health problems. His exit from the band in 1997 was not a voluntary one, because of an ear problem he had to resign as bassist. He was succeeded by Peter Rasym.
The name of the band is composed of the first letters of the founding members plus a Y – the H stands for Harry. The other band founders are Dieter Birr (76), Dieter Hertrampf (75), Udo Jacob and Peter Meyer (80). In 2014 the Puhdys announced their dissolution, in 2016 they gave their last concert in Berlin. Jeske was also responsible for some of the band's songs, including the 1974 song "Song for Generations".