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If you’re leaving…
One of the most dedicated fans of the band — Axel Dauer — has passed away this Sunday morning, August 19, at a hospital in Saarland, Germany. He was 56. He suffered from a multitude of health problems, each of them alone can kill a man, and when they decided to attack all at once, he barely stood a chance.
I first met Axel after the show at the hotel bar in Bad Mergentheim in 1999. Over the years we became close friends. I stayed at his place near Wiesbaden every time I was in Germany. His hospitality and generosity were truly legendary, even at the times when his financial affairs were far from being perfect. I’ll miss that hearty laugh, that no nonsense approach, his endearing stubbornness, his equally legendary cooking skills.
According to his wish, his ashes will be spread in Montreux, on the Lake Geneva shoreline.
Rest in peace dear friend. You will be remembered.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
…..souls that are touched are forever entwined. Rest In Peace Axel
August 21st, 2018 at 00:30Gutted to hear this , rest in peace mate.
August 21st, 2018 at 01:19Met him at tony ashton tribute gig at buxton opera house back in 2001? Pretty decent guy .Good memories that day (in the pub over the road from the gig esp with ian paice popping into the pub) and evening. Rest in peace Axel.
August 21st, 2018 at 01:23This is a very sad day for many of us. My wife Line, and I too first met Axel at the same place at the same time as Nick. We had no idea what a close friendship would develop amongst us all, especially Axel. There’s no doubt the band never had a more dedicated fan, right to the core of his heart. We all had so much fun, and so many great times travelling together, and/or using his home as a free hotel (At his insistence and you didn’t argue – it would get you nowhere!) and a “base of operations” where we could train or fly in and then go off in another direction to follow the tours. He saved us countless amounts of money, and helped us all navigate whatever tour was on at the time. We never had to worry about a meal (Could that man cook!!), getting cleaned up, laundry done, nor a ride to anywhere. He was always right there. Pick-ups at Frankfurt Airport, or drives to same to go home. Drives to train stations, historic German cities and villages – you name it – Axel was always there for us. He wouldn’t take a cent! We’d have to figure out inventive ways to leave some money he could find long after we were back home in Canada. At times, we knew he needed the money, but he’d never ask, and would never accept. He was the most generous soul. The last couple of years haven’t been easy for Axel, and we felt helpless as there wasn’t much we could do, other than keep in touch and pray for him. He always had the uncanny knack to bounce back, but this time the struggle was far too great and he couldn’t climb back up the hill. The struggles are over my friend, and you’re at peace now. We will ensure you’re very fondly remembered. You leave a very large hole in my and Line’s hearts. RIP our German Deep Purple Buddy. :~(
August 21st, 2018 at 01:38The World has become a poorer place. I was also there in Bad Mergentheim in ’99 and had many entertaining evenings, in various bars in Germny and the UK with him in the years after. RIP Axel – you will be missed.
August 21st, 2018 at 06:57Axel was a great human being RIP my friend .
August 21st, 2018 at 08:00RIP
August 21st, 2018 at 08:21Io non ti conoscevo Axel ma solo x essere stato grande fan dei DEEP la mia band preferita è come se ti conoscessi da sempre R.I.P è ti sia lieve la terra amico mio
August 21st, 2018 at 08:26RIP
August 21st, 2018 at 09:02Oh, my… I visited him twice, in 2006 and 2010. His hospitality, cordiality and an amazing sense of humor could not leave indifferent. Thank you, my friend, see you in heaven. Rest in peace, bro…
August 21st, 2018 at 12:57Sad news. One of the most devoted Purple fans I ever met. >His ashes will be spread on the Lake Geneva shoreline< … Wow! He deserves it. RIP!
August 21st, 2018 at 17:16Sad to hear this. I met him for several times, last time in 2017 at Loreley..a nice guy….rest in peace axel…
August 21st, 2018 at 18:21Saddest news. True fan, lovely guy. RIP
August 21st, 2018 at 19:02Very sad news, didn’t know him at all but sounds like an incredibly nice guy, rest in peace.
August 21st, 2018 at 20:24Sorry for the Purple Family loss…. Fans of Purple are part of a true family and it effects us all. RIP Axel…… 😉
Ch-BeerZ
August 21st, 2018 at 20:34A sad day for our Purple Family!
Rest in Peace!
Klaus
August 21st, 2018 at 23:54Very sad news. I had the pleasure to meet Axel (and his partner Brenda) in Koln, and then again in Portsmouth on the 2002 Deep Purple european tour. A friendly guy. RIP mate.
August 22nd, 2018 at 00:03RIP – I didn’t have the chance to meet him , but sounds like a very nice man.. RIP my friend
August 22nd, 2018 at 02:01I met Axel in London during the first Farewell to Jon tour in 2002 — i still remember Cliff Massey and this larger-than-life bull of a man coming into the hotel lounge where we all were sitting around and immediately the energy level in the room doubling, with his hearty laugh and his strong reverberating voice cutting clearly through the babble of conversations. A few months later he invited me to share a roadtrip with him for a few dates at the start of the summer tour in the Southwest US, and that’s when i truly came to appreciate his passion for Purple and the strength of his friendship.
August 22nd, 2018 at 08:54One Axel story from that trip: late one evening he decided he needed something to eat, and so he headed out from the hotel room about 10pm or so on foot to find something to satisfy the craving. Many, many hours later he finally returned only to rummage through his belongings, and then head back out again. About 10 minutes later he returned, and being now fully awake i asked him what had been going on. It turned out that as he walked up to the local Waffle House, the waitress inside became terrified at this imposing man approaching, locked the door and called the police. Axel managed to extricate himself by striking up a conversation with the arresting officer, a fellow brother-in-arms (Axel was a German policeman at the time), and offered to prove his bonafides by swapping some police patches with him (all service folk the world over seem to engage in patch swapping — just ask Jim or Rich!) — so the officer drove him back to the hotel, waited while Axel located the patches and then exchanged them, and finally released him from custody!!
Axel was a unique soul, intimidating upon first meeting him, but steadfast, fun-loving, and a great friend once you got past that facade. I was privileged to have come to know him, and deeply saddened by his passing. I hope you find yourself surrounded by cats on the other side….
I never knew or even met Axel but just from reading these comments I can see he was well respected. Condolences to his family and friends. R.I.P Axel.
August 22nd, 2018 at 15:01My wife Kathy and myself first met Axel and Brenda in 1998 somewhere in Germany. We hit it off instantly. We coninued to meet at numerous shows throughout Europe for many years. His passion for the band and for cooking were something we had in common, plus the liking of German lager. He changed my life tor ever in a good way. He was a kind and generous man. Nothing was too much. We both made many good friends on our journeys but sadly he has taken this his final journey alone. Im a better man for knowing my freaking brothet as he called me. Bless you my brother. I love you and will miss you till we reunite again somewhere. X
August 22nd, 2018 at 16:10Liebe Deep Purplefreunde,
es ist sehr traurig, dass Axel gestorben ist. Er war für mich ein freundlicher, großzügiger, hilfsbereiter Freund, der mir und Peter eine schöne aufregende Deep Purplezeit beschert hat. Wo er auch immer ist, ich wünsche ihm eine großartige Zeit. Vielen Dank Axel für die schöne Zeit mit Dir.
Alles Gute lieber @xel, RIP
Evi und Peter
August 23rd, 2018 at 10:03RIP
August 24th, 2018 at 11:54Axel!!!!!!!! what the?? no more visits to the gustov(camper he owned) I will be missing you my friend, the world changed a lot when you left,…any chance of putting in a good word? lol love ya buddy,
August 29th, 2018 at 15:13Ian.