Editing Alec Empire

{{Short description|German experimental electronic musician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Alec Empire
| image           = Alecempire1.jpg
| caption         = Alec Empire DJing at [[Throbbing Gristle]]'s 2005–2006 New Year's Eve party
| image_size      = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels -->
| birth_name      = Alexander Wilke-Steinhof{{cn|date=July 2021}}
| alias           = Alexander Wilke, Death Funk, DJ 6666 feat. The Illegals, DJ Mowgly, E.C.P., Jaguar, LX Empire, Naomi Campbell, Nero, [[Nintendo Teenage Robots]], P.J.P., Richard Benson, Wipe Out
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1972|5|2|df=y}}{{cn|date=July 2021}}
| death_date      =
| birth_place     = [[Charlottenburg]], [[West Berlin]], [[West Germany]]{{cn|date=July 2021}}
| instrument      = Vocals, guitar, synthesizer, [[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampler]], [[drum machine]], [[Mixing console|mixer]]
| genre           = {{flatlist|
* [[Digital hardcore]]
* [[Experimental music|experimental]]
* [[Electronic music|electronic]]
* [[hardcore techno]]
* [[Noise music|noise]]
}}
| occupation      = Musician, producer, DJ
| years_active    = 1990–present
| label           = [[Digital Hardcore Recordings]], [[Eat Your Heart Out Records]], [[Grand Royal]], [[Phonogram Inc.|Phonogram]], [[Force Inc.]], [[Mille Plateaux (record label)|Mille Plateaux]], [[Geist Recordings]], [[Riot Beats]]
| associated_acts = [[Atari Teenage Riot]]<br>The Curse of the Golden Vampire
| website         = http://www.alec-empire.com/
}}

'''Alec Empire''' (born '''Alexander Wilke-Steinhof''' on 2 May 1972)<ref name="empirebio">https://www.alec-empire.com/ae Alec Empire official website biography</ref> is a German experimental electronic musician who is best known as a founding member of the band [[Atari Teenage Riot]], as well as a solo artist, producer and DJ. He has released many albums, EPs and singles, some under aliases, and remixed over seventy tracks for various artists including [[Björk]]. He was also the driving force behind the creation of the [[digital hardcore]] genre, and founded the record labels [[Digital Hardcore Recordings]] and [[Eat Your Heart Out Records]].

==Biography==
Wilke's father was a working-class socialist, himself the son of a radical activist who perished in the [[Nazi concentration camps]] of [[World War II]].<ref name="faceculture">[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185636/http://faceculture.ad2stream.com/index.php?cnti_key=11739817 Alec Empire – 2008 – II] [Video interview], FaceCulture, 2008-03-05, retrieved 21 March 2008.</ref><ref name="yates">Catherine Yates, "King of Pain" (p15-18), ''[[Kerrang!]]'', 6 April 2002.</ref> His maternal grandfather, Karl Steinhof, was a self-made millionaire who patented the first domestic hand-knitting appliance during the economic boom in Germany in the 1950s.<ref name="faceculture" /><ref name="steinhof">Herbert Schurich (inventor), Hand knitting appliance, US Patent 2,762,213, 11 September 1956. [https://books.google.com/patents?id=0ndGAAAAEBAJ Google Patents].{{dead link|date=July 2021}}</ref>

Wilke grew up during the [[Cold War]] near the [[Berlin Wall]], which he passed every day on his way to school. The frequent sight of patrol guards with guns influenced his outlook on life from an early age.<ref name="octvvideo">[http://www.oc-tv.net/en/movies/alec-empire.htm Alec Empire] [Video interview], OC-TV.net, retrieved 22 July 2007.</ref> He describes Berlin at the time as: "Probably the most left radical place in Germany in the 70s, terrorists, a lot of demonstrations, and probably the first address to hear the latest American music, because of the radio shows the US soldiers brought to Berlin."<ref name="2002interview">[http://www.digitalhardcore.com/News_Item.asp?News_ID=25 Interview – The definitive Alec Empire Interview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203091920/http://www.digitalhardcore.com/News_Item.asp?News_ID=25 |date=3 February 2007 }}, [[Digital Hardcore Recordings]], retrieved 30 January 2007.</ref>

===Early influences and career===
At the age of ten, Wilke's love of [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] led to a [[Vogue (dance)|vogueing]] career on the streets of Berlin.<ref name="pitch97">David Day, "Riotous Empire", ''Pitch Weekly'', 28 August – 3 September 1997. [http://www.alecempirefansite.com/press/atr280897.html AlecEmpireFansite.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928150259/http://www.alecempirefansite.com/press/atr280897.html |date=28 September 2007 }}.</ref><ref name="DIS">[http://www.drownedinsound.com/artist/view/2420 Alec Empire] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318123940/http://drownedinsound.com/artist/view/2420 |date=18 March 2006 }}, [[Drowned in Sound]], last accessed 4 August 2006.</ref> Later disillusioned by that genre becoming increasingly commercial, he left it behind in favour of a completely different form of musical expression. He had played guitar since the age of eight which coupled with his politically charged upbringing eventually led him to [[Punk ideology|punk]] music; he formed his first band, Die Kinder (The Kids), at age twelve.<ref name="DIS" />

By sixteen, however, Wilke came to believe that the punk movement was "dead" (though the [[anti-establishment]] punk attitude would figure significantly in his subsequent output). After leaving Die Kinder, he began listening to classical music and experimenting with electronic instruments.<ref name="thewire">Biba Kopf, "Daft Punk", ''The Wire'', Issue 166, December 1997. [https://archive.today/20070629205756/http://www.gostimirovic.com/artists/alecempire/press/press1.html Gostimirovic.com].{{Dead link|date=November 2009}}</ref> He eventually became fascinated by the [[rave]] scene, and, following [[German reunification]], frequented underground raves in [[East Berlin]], believing his native West Berlin scene to be too commercialised. Known earlier in his career as LX Empire he produced a great deal of what he refers to as "faceless DJ music".<ref name="forceinc">[http://www.alecempirefansite.com/force/force_notes.html Force Inc. Music Works] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910061605/http://www.alecempirefansite.com/force/force_notes.html |date=10 September 2007 }}, AlecEmpireFansite.com, retrieved 22 January 2007.</ref> In 1991, while DJing on a beach in France with his friend [[Hanin Elias]], he caught the attention of [[Ian Pooley]], which led to the release of a number of [[12"]] records on the [[Force Inc.]] label.<ref name="forceinc" />

Although Empire was a prolific producer and DJ at this time,<ref name="fansite">[http://www.alecempirefansite.com/dhr/dhr_notes.html The Destroyer/Digital Hard-core] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807070207/http://www.alecempirefansite.com/dhr/dhr_notes.html |date=7 August 2007 }}, AlecEmpireFansite.com, last accessed 4 August 2006.</ref> and made a comfortable enough living, he nevertheless saw the rave scene as [[decadence|decadent]] and selfish. This angered him, as he and his friends lived in a city embroiled in politics, and the demise of communist-led governments had given rise to increased conservatism in Germany, whilst few people cared. The German [[neo-Nazi]] movement had invaded the scene, declaring [[tech trance|trance techno]] "true German music".<ref name="fansite" />

Empire retaliated by utilising [[Sampling (music)|samples]] of 1960s and 1970s [[funk]] – a predominantly black style of music – in his solo work. In order to further spread the message, he gathered like-minded individuals [[Hanin Elias]] (also a former punk) and [[Carl Crack]] (a [[Swazi people|Swazi]] [[MC]]) to form a band. In 1992, the trio became known as [[Atari Teenage Riot]] (ATR).{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

===Atari Teenage Riot and Digital Hardcore Recordings===
{{Main|Atari Teenage Riot|Digital Hardcore Recordings}}
In Empire's words, Atari Teenage Riot's complex musical style was intended to "destroy" the "simulated harmony" of the mainstream electronic music, and that, besides their [[Protest song|protest lyrics]], "riot sound produce riots". Empire, who is [[straight edge]], also stated that it was a reaction to both the [[Fashion victim|fashion-victimized]] and drug-fueled nihilism of the rave scene of the 1990s, once saying that "You can't read or do anything else while listening to our music."<ref>{{cite magazine|access-date=19 March 2018|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xGB0iIRXtJEC&pg=PA26|title=Bring on Der Noise|page=26|publication-date=January 1997|volume=12|number=10|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|first=Mike |last=Rubin|date = January 1997|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180319041912/https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=xGB0iIRXtJEC&pg=PA26&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false|archive-date=19 March 2018}}</ref>

ATR signed a record deal with [[Phonogram Records|Phonogram]], a major UK label, in 1993. The two parted ways after only a couple of single releases, due to the band's refusal to play by the label's rules.<ref name="atronion">Todd Hansen, [http://www.avclub.com/content/node/23323 Interview: Atari Teenage Riot] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227021736/http://www.avclub.com/content/node/23323 |date=27 December 2008 }}, ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', 7 July 1997, last accessed 12 December 2006</ref><ref name="indymedia">[http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80386 Alec Empire Interview: "People Are Organized But Political Music Is Not Really Being Made."], Indymedia Ireland, 28 December 2006, retrieved 23 January 2007.</ref> In 1994, using the non-refundable cash advance from the deal, Empire started an independent [[record label]] that allowed its artists the freedom of expression Phonogram were unlikely to give. He named it [[Digital Hardcore Recordings]] (DHR); the direction his sound had taken came to be known as "[[digital hardcore]]". That year, DHR released [[Extended play|EPs]] by [[EC8OR]], Sonic Subjunkies, and Empire himself.

While working with ATR, Empire continued steadily with his solo output. He recorded for Force Inc. under several pseudonyms, including the [[Detroit techno]]-inspired Jaguar. He also recorded several albums for Force Inc.'s experimental sub-label [[Mille Plateaux (record label)|Mille Plateaux]], including ''[[Generation Star Wars]]'' (his first full solo album) and ''[[Low on Ice (The Iceland Sessions)|Low on Ice]]'', which he recorded entirely on his laptop during a three-day tour of Iceland with ATR. In 1995, ATR released their first proper album, ''[[Delete Yourself!]]'', on DHR, and, in 1996, Empire released his first solo album for DHR, ''[[The Destroyer (Alec Empire album)|The Destroyer]]''. In that year, Empire and [[Mike D (musician)|Mike D]] signed a deal to release a number of DHR's recordings on the [[Beastie Boys]]' [[Grand Royal]] record label in the United States.<ref name="dhrbiog">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalhardcore.com/artist_bio.asp?Artist_ID=90|title=Digital Hardcore Recordings: Biography|publisher=Digital Hardcore Recordings|access-date=30 November 2016|archive-date=9 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509033535/http://www.digitalhardcore.com/artist_bio.asp?artist_ID=90}}</ref>

ATR spent the next few years touring the world with artists such as [[Blues Explosion|Jon Spencer Blues Explosion]], [[Beck]], [[Rage Against the Machine]], the [[Wu-Tang Clan]] and [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]], as well as headlining shows as the Digital Hardcore festival at [[CBGB]]'s in New York City in 1998, and the [[Queen Elizabeth Hall]] show in London in 1999 at the request of fan [[John Peel]].<ref name="atrpeel">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1990s/1999/Mar19atariteenageriot/ Keeping It Peel – 19 March 1999], [[BBC Radio 1]], last accessed 14 December 2006.</ref> During this time they introduced [[Nic Endo]] to their ranks as a fourth member.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

All of the members found some comfort in their solo work – Empire's output at this time would include his sole release as [[We Punk Einheit!|Nintendo Teenage Robots]], and the [[bootleg recording]] ''[[Alec Empire vs. Elvis Presley]]'', as well as remixes for the likes of [[The Mad Capsule Markets]], [[Mogwai]] and [[Thurston Moore]]. However, ATR's problems worsened. Onstage at one show in [[Seattle]] in 1999, Empire slashed his forearms with a razor.<ref name="yates" /> At another show that year in London, in which ATR supported [[Nine Inch Nails]], the band dispensed with the usual song-based formula and delivered one long barrage of what could only be described as "noise"; this would later be released as ''[[Live at Brixton Academy (Atari Teenage Riot album)|Live at Brixton Academy]]''.

By the end of 1999, Empire was mentally exhausted, Elias was pregnant and Crack was suffering from [[psychosis]] induced by prolonged drug use.<ref name="dhrbiog" /> The band was put on hiatus; its future was made even more doubtful following Crack's death in 2001,<ref name="crackmtv">Corey Moss, [https://web.archive.org/web/20021106043908/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1449099/20010924/atari_teenage_riot.jhtml Atari Teenage Riot Cofounder Dead At 30], [[MTV]], 24 September 2001, retrieved 3 February 2007.</ref> and Elias' decision to leave DHR and create [[Fatal Recordings]].

===After ATR===
[[Image:Alecempire-liveinprato2007.jpg|thumb|200px|Alec Empire performing live in [[Prato]], Italy on 13 January 2007]]
Empire rebounded in 2001 when he, with assistance from Endo, recorded ''[[Intelligence and Sacrifice]]''. The album contained two discs: the first retained the ATR formula, yet exhibited a more polished production style and lyrics of an unusually introspective nature;<ref name="gothtronicint">[http://www.gothtronic.com/?page=23&band=272 Alec Empire (int)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629201702/http://www.gothtronic.com/?page=23&band=272 |date=29 June 2008 }}, Gothtronic, retrieved 22 July 2007.</ref> the second disc was an electronic instrumental album, and in contrast was more experimental. He used an all-star lineup in his first live "Alec Empire" show at the [[Fuji Rock Festival]] in Japan: [[Charlie Clouser]] (ex-[[Nine Inch Nails]]) played [[synthesizer|synths]], [[Merzbow|Masami "Merzbow" Akita]] and [[Gabe Serbian]] ([[The Locust]]) both played drums, and Endo played synths and keyboards.<ref name="alecfuji">[http://www.digitalhardcore.com/artist_news_item.asp?News_ID=27&Artist_ID=1 Alec Empire Live at FujiRock Festival] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016005129/http://www.digitalhardcore.com/artist_news_item.asp?News_ID=27&Artist_ID=1 |date=16 October 2006 }}, Digital Hardcore Recordings, last accessed 24 December 2006.</ref>

Empire's next lineup would include a guitarist, Robbie Furze, who would later record for DHR with [[Panic DHH]]. Empire also played a series of live shows performing material from the [[Intelligence and Sacrifice#CD2|second disc of ''Intelligence and Sacrifice'']]; one of these was released as ''[[The CD2 Sessions: Live in London 7 December 2002|The CD2 Sessions]]'' in 2003. He returned in 2005 with ''[[Futurist (Alec Empire album)|Futurist]]'', which was less electronic than its predecessor and had more of a raw punk-rock sound, albeit assisted by drum machines and some processing.<ref name="gothtronicmessiah">[http://www.gothtronic.com/?page=23&interviews=851 Alec Empire a new Messiah? (Interview)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609212443/http://www.gothtronic.com/?page=23&interviews=851 |date=9 June 2008 }}, Gothtronic, retrieved 20 March 2007.</ref>

Empire began 2006 by DJing at [[Industrial music|industrial]] pioneers [[Throbbing Gristle]]'s New Year's Eve party.<ref name="gristle">[http://www.digitalhardcore.com/News_Item.asp?News_ID=182 Alec Empire spins at Throbbing Gristle New Years Eve party in Berlin!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208094342/http://www.digitalhardcore.com/news_item.asp?News_ID=182 |date=8 December 2006 }}, Digital Hardcore Recordings, retrieved 21 January 2007.</ref> During that year he remixed fellow Germans [[Rammstein]] (whom he once said were "successful for all the wrong reasons"<ref name="mtvrammstein">[https://archive.today/20121209000122/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425050/19981109/story.jhtml Atari Teenage Riot's Alec Empire Questions Rammstein's Sincerity], MTV, 9 November 1998, retrieved 3 February 2007.</ref>) and New York hardcore band [[Most Precious Blood (band)|Most Precious Blood]]. He also recorded a cover version of [[The Monks]]' "Monk Time" for a tribute album with that band's singer Gary Burger, and Russell Simins of Blues Explosion.<ref name="monks">[http://www.digitalhardcore.com/News_Item.asp?News_ID=185 HOT NEWS: Alec starts collaborating with Russell Simins (drummer with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) and Gary Burger (original member of The Monks)!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207101305/http://www.digitalhardcore.com/news_item.asp?News_ID=185 |date=7 December 2006 }}, Digital Hardcore Recordings, retrieved 21 January 2007.</ref> ''[[Atari Teenage Riot: 1992-2000]]'', a retrospective album, was released by DHR on 3 July 2006.

===After DHR===
[[File:Alec Empire Nocturnal Culture Night 11 2016 04.jpg|thumb|Alec Empire at Nocturnal Culture Night festival 2016]]
In 2007, Empire announced that DHR would henceforth assume a more "underground" role,<ref name="msblog">Blog: Dead or Alive?, Alec Empire's official MySpace, 28 April 2007, retrieved 22 July 2007.</ref> as his focus turned to a new label, Eat Your Heart Out Records,<ref name="musictowers">Hugh Platt, [http://www.musictowers.com/news/features/interview-alec-empire-bites-back Interview: Alec Empire bites back], Music Towers, 24 April 2007, last accessed 15 August 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070504040912/http://www.musictowers.com/news/features/interview-alec-empire-bites-back |date=4 May 2007 }}</ref> which he describes as "the sound of New [[Berlin]]".<ref name="DIYinterview">[http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/8559/Alec-Empire.html Interview: Alec Empire] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506101325/http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/8559/Alec-Empire.html |date=6 May 2008 }}, This is Fake DIY, retrieved 25 February 2008.</ref> The label's first release was his 12" single "[[Robot L.O.V.E.]]", followed by an album, ''[[The Golden Foretaste of Heaven]]'', recorded with his new production team and touring band The Hellish Vortex, released in Japan on 28 November 2007 and in Europe on 21 January 2008.<ref name="msblog2">Blog: Getting Ready for Singapore!, Alec Empire's official MySpace, 18 September 2007, retrieved 19 September 2007.</ref>  The second single release, the ''[[On Fire EP]]'', was released on 7 December.<ref name="dhronfire">[http://www.digitalhardcore.com/News_Item.asp?News_ID=223 Alec Empire On Fire 4 track EP out 7th Dec!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111173540/http://www.digitalhardcore.com/News_Item.asp?News_ID=223 |date=11 November 2007 }}, Digital Hardcore Recordings, retrieved 19 November 2007.</ref> ''[[Sixteen Years of Video Material]]'', a DVD featuring rare footage of Empire and ATR was released on German video label Monitorpop in July 2008.<ref name="eyhodvd">[http://www.eat-your-heart-out.com/news.html News: Atari Teenage Riot and Alec Empire DVD coming] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611135935/http://www.eat-your-heart-out.com/news.html |date=11 June 2007 }}, Eat Your Heart Out, last accessed 25 February 2008.</ref><ref name="trilogyrock">"Alec Empire (DE) Interview". ''Trilogy Rock''. [12 May 2007]. (Archived at [http://www.trilogyrock.com/historial-descarregues.php TrilogyRock.com])</ref>

In February 2017 Empire released an original soundtrack album for the German sci-fi thriller ''Volt''.<ref name="volt">[http://filmmusicreporter.com/2017/01/06/atari-teenage-riots-alec-empires-volt-soundtrack-to-be-released Atari Teenage Riot’s Alec Empire’s ‘Volt’ Soundtrack to Be Released], Film Music Reporter, retrieved 27 July 2017.</ref>

==Style==
Alec Empire's body of work spans a range of electronic (as well as conventionally less electronic) styles. His earlier releases for Force Inc. were influenced by the rave scene in his native Berlin, and included [[acid house]], techno, hardcore, punk and breakbeat (all of which are evident on the ''SuEcide'' EPs and the ''[[Limited Editions 1990-1994]]'' compilation). On creating DHR his solo recordings for that label consisted largely of the digital hardcore staples of breakcore (as heard on ''The Destroyer'' album and EPs) and later experimental noise (as heard on ''[[Miss Black America (album)|Miss Black America]]''), while his work during the same period for Mille Plateaux saw him experimenting with [[minimal techno]] (''Pulse Code''), [[Ambient music|ambient]] (''Low on Ice'') and [[musique concrète]] (''[[Les Étoiles des Filles Mortes]]''). His alter-egos for various labels provided outlets for dabbling in other genres such as [[drum and bass]]/[[Oldschool jungle|jungle]] (DJ Mowgly), [[Detroit techno]] (Jaguar) and even [[chiptune]] music (Nintendo Teenage Robots).{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

After the demise of Atari Teenage Riot, Empire's major releases for DHR sought to continue in the guitar-based, punk-influenced vein of the band. ''Intelligence and Sacrifice'' utilised live guitars, breakbeats, noise, sampled cinematic dialogue and Empire's trademark spoken/shouted English vocals, while ''Futurist'' saw a more obvious return to his punk roots and consequently sounds as if it were largely recorded using all live instrumentation, even though it was electronically produced. The creation of the Eat Your Heart Out label saw a move to a much more electronic-sounding approach with comparatively subdued vocals over synthesized sounds and beats.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

==Discography==
{{See also|Alec Empire discography|Atari Teenage Riot}}

===Albums===
* 1992 – SuEcide Pt.1 & Pt.2
* 1994 – Limited Editions 1990–94 (Mille Plateaux / Geist Records UK)
* 1994 – Generation Star Wars (Mille Plateaux / Geist Records UK)
* 1995 – [[Low on Ice (The Iceland Sessions)|Low on Ice]] (Mille Plateaux Records)
* 1995 – [[Atari Teenage Riot]] – Delete Yourself (Digital Hardcore Rec. / Intercord)
* 1996 – [[Hypermodern Jazz 2000.5]] (Mille Plateaux / Geist Records UK)
* 1996 – [[The Destroyer (Alec Empire album)|The Destroyer]] (Digital Hardcore Recordings)
* 1996 – [[Les Étoiles des Filles Mortes]] (Mille Plateaux / Geist Records UK)
* 1996 – Berlin Sky (Analogue Records USA)
* 1997 – [[Atari Teenage Riot]] – Burn Berlin Burn (Grand Royal USA / DHR)
* 1997 – Squeeze The Trigger (DHR UK)
* 1998 – [[Miss Black America (album)|Miss Black America]] (DHR UK)
* 1999 – [[Atari Teenage Riot]] – 60 Second Wipe Out (Elektra Records USA / DHR)
* 1999 – Nintendo Teenage Robots – We Punk Einheit (DHR Limited)
* 1999 – [[Alec Empire vs. Elvis Presley]] Bootleg (El Turco Loco)
* 2001 – [[Intelligence and Sacrifice]] (Beat Ink. Japan)
* 2002 – [[Intelligence and Sacrifice]] (Digital Hardcore Recordings / Zomba Records)
* 2002 – Redefine The Enemy (DVD)
* 2003 – Alec Empire & Merzbow live at CBGBs New York (Digital Hardcore Recordings)
* 2003 – The CD2 Sessions Live in London (Digital Hardcore Recordings)
* 2005 – [[Futurist (Alec Empire album)|Futurist]] (Digital Hardcore Recordings/Beat Ink Japan)
* 2006 – [[Atari Teenage Riot]] – Atari Teenage Riot ([[Digital Hardcore Recordings]])
* 2007 – [[The Golden Foretaste of Heaven]] (Eat Your Heart Out Records/Beat Ink Japan)
* 2008 – [[The Golden Foretaste of Heaven]] (Eat Your Heart Out Records/[[Rough Trade Records|Rough Trade]])
* 2009 – Shivers (Eat Your Heart Out Records)
* 2011 – Mustard Pimp feat. Alec Empire – Catch Me ([[Dim Mak Records]])
* 2011 – [[Atari Teenage Riot]]  – Is This Hyperreal? (Digital Hardcore Recordings)

===Remixes (selection)===
* 1993 – Space Cube (Remix: Dschungelfieber) / Riot Beats
* 1994 – Air Liquide (Remix: Abuse Your Illusions Pt.1)
* 1996 – Nicolette (Remix: Beautiful Day) / Mercury Records / Talkin Loud Rec.
* 1996 – [[Stereo Total]] (Remix: Dactylo Rock)
* 1996 – [[Schorsch Kamerun]] (Remix: Die Menschen aus Kiel) / L'Âge d'or Records
* 1996 – Cibo Matto (Remix: Know Your Chicken) / Blanco Y Negro Records
* 1996 – [[Think About Mutation]] / Ooomph (Remix: Motor Razor)
* 1996 – Bindenmittel – (Remix: Unification) WEA Records
* 1997 – Nicolette (Remix: [[No Government]]) / Talkin Loud Records
* 1997 – [[Audio Active]] (Remix: My Way) / On U-Sound Records
* 1997 – [[Björk]] (Remix: Bachelorette) / One Little Indian Records
* 1997 – [[Björk]] (Remix: Joga) / Mother Records
* 1997 – Mad Capsule Markets (Remix: Crash Pow) / Viktor Entertainment Japan
* 1997 – [[Violent Onsen Geisha]] & DMBQ (Remix: Mood of Mods Generation) / ZK Records Japan
* 1997 – [[Einstürzende Neubauten]] (Remix: The Garden) / Mute Records
* 1997 – [[Schweisser]] (Remix: Friss Scheiße) / Intercord Tonträger GmbH
* 1997 – Bottom 12 – (Remix: Dance or be shot)
* 1997 – Buffalo Daughter (Remix: Dr Moog) / Grand Royal Records
* 1998 – [[Mark Stewart (English musician)|Mark Stewart]] (Remix: Consumed) / Mute Records
* 1998 – [[Mogwai]] (Remix: Like Herod) / Eye Q Records UK, Jet Set Records
* 1998 – [[Thurston Moore]] (Remix: Root) / Lo Recordings
* 1998 – Shonen Knife – (Remix: Keep On Rockin) / MCA Victor Japan
* 1998 – Techno Animal vs. Reality (Remix: Atomic Buddha) / City Slang, Labels
* 1999 – Collision Course (El-P, Company Flow) (Remix: Trapped in 3D) / PIAS UK
* 1999 – [[Björk]] (Remix: Joga) / Columbia Records
* 2000 – [[Godzilla]] 2000 Soundtrack (Remix: March of Godzilla) / [[Nippon Columbia]]
* 2000 – Guitar Wolf – (Remix: Jet Virus) / KiOon Records Japan
* 2002 – [[Primal Scream]] (Remix: Miss Lucifer) / Columbia Records, Sony
* 2003 – Brainbombs (Remix: It's a Burning Hell) / Load Records USA
* 2003 – [[Chris Vrenna]] (Remix: Skool Daze) / Waxploitation Records USA
* 2004 – [[Rammstein]] (Remix: Amerika) / Universal Music
* 2004 – Panic DHH (Remix: Reach) / Gonzo Circus Records
* 2005 – [[Coil (band)]] (Remix: Tribute To Coil) / Fulldozer Records Russia
* 2005 – [[Rammstein]] (Remix: Mann Gegen Mann) / Universal Island Records
* 2006 – [[Most Precious Blood (band)|Most Precious Blood]] (Remix: Oxygen Dept) / Halo 8 Records USA
* 2007 – [[Emigrate]] (Remix: New York City) / Motor, Edel Records
* 2010 – [[IAMX]] (Remix: I Am Terrified) / [[Metropolis Records]], 61Seconds
* 2012 – SALEM (Remix: Better Off Alone)
* 2021 – [[Eternal Struggle]] (Remix: Year of the Gun) / Demons Run Amok Entertainment

==Films / soundtracks / film music contribution and/or composition==
* ''Spawn'' (USA, 1997)
* ''Orgazmo'' (USA, 1998)
* ''Modulations'' (USA, 1998)
* ''Hurricane Streets'' (USA, 1999)
* ''Buddyhead Presents: Punk Is Dead'' (USA, 2005)
* ''Threat'' (USA, 2000, Re-Release 2006)
* ''The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift'' (USA, 2006)
* ''[[Monks: The Transatlantic Feedback]]'' (USA, Sp, D, 2006)
* ''[[Durch die Nacht mit …]]'' (Episode Arte TV, 2008)
* ''Atari Teenage Riot / Alec Empire: 16 Years of Video Material'' (DVD only, the United States, Japan, EU, 2008)
* ''224466'' (Japan, 2008, episode of ''246'')
* ''Slumber Party Slaughterhouse" (USA, 2008)
* ''Chaostage'' (D, 2008)
* ''Godkiller'' (USA, 2010)
* ''Volt'' (Germany, 2018)
* ''[[Razzennest]]'' (Austria, 2022)

==Notes==
{{Reflist|3}}

==References==
* [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p199955/biography|pure_url=yes}} Alec Empire] at [[AllMusic]]
* [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p199884/biography|pure_url=yes}} Atari Teenage Riot] at AllMusic
* {{IMDb name|1299206}}

==External links==
<!-- Per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
{{commonscat}}
*{{Official website|1=http://www.alec-empire.com}}

{{Alec Empire}}
{{Atari Teenage Riot}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire, Alec}}
[[Category:German electronic musicians]]
[[Category:German experimental musicians]]
[[Category:Noise musicians]]
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Kerrang! Awards winners]]
[[Category:German industrial musicians]]
[[Category:German punk rock musicians]]
[[Category:German anti-fascists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Berlin]]
[[Category:Atari Teenage Riot members]]
[[Category:Digital hardcore musicians]]