Rio Reiser
The musician is honored with an honorary grave in Berlin
For a long time Rio Reiser was the singer and songwriter of the band Ton Steine Scherben.
© imago images / teutopress
Rio Reiser died a good 25 years ago at the age of just 46 in North Frisia. The city of Berlin now wants to honor him in a special way.
Musician Rio Reiser (1950-1996) died a good 25 years ago at the age of just 46 in North Friesland from varicose veins in the esophagus. The German capital will now honor his services as an artist in a special way – with an honorary grave.
As reported by several media outlets in Berlin, among others, the Senate announced the decision after its meeting on Tuesday (July 6th). In addition to Reiser, nine other personalities received graves of honor. 53 existing ones will be financed by the city for a further 20 years, including that of the famous playwright Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956).
Rio Reiser is buried in the Schöneberg district
A final resting place can only be classified as an honorary grave five years after death at the earliest. The district office then usually takes care of maintenance for 20 years and bears the costs. Rio Reiser’s grave has been in the Old St. Matthew Cemetery in the Schöneberg district for some time, but was only moved there after his private country estate was sold by the heirs. The musician was originally buried on the railing of the “Rio Reiser House” in the district of North Friesland, which became a pilgrimage site for its fans.
Reiser, whose real name was Ralph Christian Möbius, had become famous among others with the band Ton Steine Scherben, of which he was the head between 1970 and 1985. Later he also celebrated successes as a solo artist – among other things with the title “Junimond”.