1977 – 2026
There is news that hits you unexpectedly hard, even if you never shook the person’s hand. The tragic accidental death of Bartholomäus Resch this May is exactly that kind of moment, one that has left a palpable void in the scene.
I want to be completely honest: I did not know Barth personally. I never attended the House of the Holy, and we never philosophized about music or life over a beer. Nevertheless, his work has deeply fascinated and inspired me over the years.
My connection to him was formed through the stories of friends who worked with him, who played at his festival, or who were involved in its organization. Whenever they spoke of him, there was always a deep underlying respect… the respect for a true original. Barth was someone who didn’t just consume the underground or treat it as a hobby. He breathed it.
The Austrian scene surrounding him had a very unique, almost mystical attraction for me. I observed it all from the outside, always with the thought in the back of my mind: “You have to go there. You have to experience this festival.”
That this opportunity has now passed forever fills me with great regret. But what remains is the immense inspiration that his uncompromising path radiated. He showed us what is possible when you realize your visions with consistency and an unbridled will.
Even though we never met: Thank you for the inspiration. My thoughts are with his friends, his companions, and his family.
Rest in peace, Barth.