Ule W Ritgen hat geschrieben:My friend Helge Engelke was not only a masterful guitarplayer, composer, arranger and producer, but also the man – along with Tommy Heart -, with whom I worked together the longest and most intense over a period of almost 28 years.
Whether in the studio, on tour or in the rehearsal room, Helge was an absolutely outstanding ally: alert, critical and witty, always looking to improve our work, yet at the same time warmhearted and constructive, never giving up until he felt everybody was satisfied.
He was the most helpful person I've ever known and his work ethic and energy were simply unmatched, being prepared to go the extra mile anytime. When I had a computer problem, I could call him late at night, and if occasionally he did not have an instant solution, he would call me back, sometimes hours later, having worked out and tested a way to solve my problem.
In many ways Helge was a distinct explorer and pioneer - he simply had an unstoppable curiosity and interest in new sounds, new instruments, new technology, new knowledge and better solutions – in any field. On the other hand he loved to study all kinds of old and new music, always broadening his artistic and creative horizon.
Quick-witted, very eloquent and with his fine sense of humor and irony he could have been a top-lawyer or sincere politican anywhere, but luckily he decided to become an artist. His sense of responsibility was extraordinary, I always could rely on him with closed eyes and often enough when we had to meet a 'final' deadline - for example while mixing in the studio - he was the last man standing, when everyone else had long fallen asleep.
Besides Fair Warning he worked successfully on recordings and videos for many of our friends like Uli Jon Roth and Zeno Roth to name but two and of course his most personal project, Dreamtide.
Looking back, it makes me very happy, that he was so pleased with their latest album 'Drama, Dust, Dream' – who could have known, that it would become his last musical statement...
I still can't come to grips with his passing - it simply feels unreal - but one thing I know:
He is and will be deeply missed.
Fly on, my friend...
