By Monk
German composer, songwriter and producer Frank Farian has died at the age of 82.
Although best known for his work with 70s disco group Bomey M and later notorious lip-synchers Milli Vanilli, Farian also dabbled in the world of rock music.
In 1985 he formed the supergroup Far Corporation, featuring Toto members Steve Lukather, David Paich and Booby Kimball, alongside singer Robin McAuley and drummer Simon Phillips, to record a version of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway To Heaven’, which went on to reach number eight in the ÜK singles chart.
The following year, he produced and mixed Meat Loaf’s ‘Blind Before I Stop’ album, also contributing backing vocals to the single ‘Rock ‘n’ Mercenaries’. That same year he released his own version of Free’s 1970 album title track ‘Fire And Water’.