Just a few weeks ago, Resetarits should have performed as “Ostbahn-Kurti” at the benefit concert for Ukraine in the Ernst Happel Stadium, but had to cancel at short notice due to a CoV disease. He had only recently reported on his illness in the “Vienna Today” talk series “Bei Budgen” – more on that in wien.ORF.at (2.4.2022).
Last appearance at the refugee ball the night before
Only on Saturday did Resetarits make an appearance at the opening of the 28th Vienna Refugee Ball. In October, Resetarits and his band Stubnblues released the album “Elapetsch” – and at that time already dealt with death: “The basic theme is actually that the approaching end is constantly present. But this phenomenon makes life more beautiful,” Resetarits explained in the APA interview at the time.
Resetarits was born in Stinatz on December 21, 1948 as the son of Burgenland-Croatian parents and grew up speaking Croatian like his brothers, who were also known, Lukas and Peter. At the age of three he moved to Vienna, following graduating from high school he studied English and sports to become a teacher, but soon gave up the teaching goal in favor of his political rock group “Schmetterlinge” and was already doing socio-political things at that time – for example when the arena was occupied in 1976 commitment draws attention to itself.
“Bruce Springsteen from Favorites”
In the mid-1980s, Resetarits’ most successful alter ego was finally born together with the author and composer Günter “Trainer” Brödl: The Ostbahn Kurti, who soon received the nickname “Bruce Springsteen from Favoriten” – among many others.
The “Ostbahn-Kurti & die Chefpartie” became the local variant of a stadium rock band – mostly without a stadium, because the locations of the major concerts spoke for themselves: on the Vienna Großgrünmarkt, in the Podersdorf lido, on the Simmeringer Ostbahn-XI-Platz and finally the “Farewell concerts” on the Hohe Warte and most recently in the Prater – more on that in news.ORF.at (24.4.2022).
Ludwig: “A titan of the Wienerlied”
“I am deeply shocked by the death of Willi Resetarits,” says Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig. “This is a great loss for our city, for the cultural scene, for all Viennese.” And further: “If you speak of the Wienerlied, then Resetarits was a titan of this genre. (…) The fact that we had to learn of his death on the day following the Flüchtlingsball – a Viennese ball institution that was inextricably linked to Willi Resetarits’ name – is particularly painful.”
“Today we mourn a musical legend, an exceptional artist and, last but not least, a very fine person,” said Andrea Mayer (Greens), Secretary of State for Art and Culture, in a first reaction.
SPÖ culture spokeswoman Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek was also dismayed: “Willi Resetarits was not only one of the most versatile Austrian rock artists, but also a tireless fighter for tolerance and humanity. He stood for solidarity with those who are not doing so well – in his texts, but also specifically in his humanitarian work, including as a co-founder of Asylum in Need and SOS Mitmensch.”
