Cause of Death Unconfirmed for Monkey Maffia (Sören Bodner), a Pioneer in Electronic Music Since the ‘80s
Sören Bodner, the renowned German DJ and producer known as Monkey Maffia, has sadly passed away. He was also celebrated for his collaborations with Robag Wruhme as part of the acclaimed Wighnomy Brothers duo.
FAZEmag was the first to announce this heartbreaking news, confirming the information through Freude Am Tanzen, the label closely associated with Bodner. At this moment, the cause of his death remains undisclosed.
In tribute, Robag Wruhme (real name Gabor Schablitzki) shared a reflective poem on Facebook on September 17. It beautifully captures their shared experiences: “Oh, little bear! / We walked. / We laughed. / We got stranded. / We sniffed. / We threw up. / We ran. / We were loud. / We danced. / We drove. / We slept. / We argued. / We flew. / We cried. / We fell. / We were quiet. / We talked. / We merged. / We made up. / We listened. / We took risks. / We won. / We lost. / We enjoyed. / We conquered this world.”
Bodner and Schablitzki’s journey began in the ’80s in East Germany, a time when strict censorship limited Western media influence. Despite the challenges, they bonded over their love for hip-hop, breakdancing, and the nascent electronic music scene. The fall of the Berlin Wall heralded a revival for electronic music in the country, leading to the formation of the Wighnomy Brothers in 1997, shortly after securing a residency at Kassablanca Jena in Central Germany.
The Wighnomy Brothers are known for their unique fusion of melodic and minimal techno, with early hits like “Killerteppich” and “Wurz + Bosse,” released in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Their music has been prominently featured by prestigious labels including Ghostly International, Kompakt, and BPitch Control.
At EDM Identity, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Sören Bodner’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult period.
