Karlheinz Stockhausen: King of the tinklybonk

Evening Standard | 7 Sep 1990

Ascetic eccentric who served as a stretcher bearer during the war and has written more than 200 musical works. Long haired, energetic, darling of the avant-garde with a maverick intelligence and six children.

Mystic, wit and wizard of electronic music who designed his house with sloping ceilings and hexagonal rooms, all lit from the outside. Whither Karlheinz Stockhausen, the composer-visionary and media star of the swinging Sixties?

There are four of us listening to my interview with the 62-year-old King Tinklybonk: his two girlfriends (vegetarians and thirtysomething), myself and his guardian angel. He’s also taping us – wanting to turn it into music later.

• Interviews