History of Hans Zimmer in Timeline
Hans Florian Zimmer is a highly acclaimed German composer and music producer known for his work in film scores. His exceptional talent has earned him numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and nominations for three Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. In 2007, Zimmer was recognized for his genius and included in The Daily Telegraph's list of Top 100 Living Geniuses.
1939: Hans Zimmer's Mother Escapes Nazi Germany
In 1939, Zimmer's mother fled Nazi Germany for England, a pivotal event that would shape his family history.
September 1957: Birth of Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer was born in September 1957.
1973: Release of the film "Badlands"
The film "Badlands," which shares a similar narrative with "True Romance" and also features Carl Orff's "Gassenhauer" in its soundtrack, was released in 1973.
1976: Formation of Krisma
The Italian new wave band Krisma, featuring Maurizio Arcieri and Christina Moser, was formed in 1976. Zimmer would later contribute to their music.
1977: Formation of the Buggles
The Buggles, a new wave band that included Trevor Horn, Geoff Downes, Bruce Woolley, and Hans Zimmer, was formed in London in 1977.
1979: Release of "Video Killed the Radio Star"
Hans Zimmer briefly appeared in the music video for the Buggles' hit song "Video Killed the Radio Star," which was released in 1979.
1980: Co-Production of "History of the World, Part 1" with The Damned
Zimmer co-produced the single "History of the World, Part 1" with the UK punk band The Damned in 1980. The song was included on the band's album "The Black Album."
1982: Collaboration with Stanley Myers on "Moonlighting"
Zimmer and Stanley Myers began working together on film scores, including the score for the film "Moonlighting" in 1982.
1984: Live Performance with Mecano in Segovia, Spain
Zimmer, on keyboards, and Warren Cann, on drums, joined the Spanish group Mecano for a live performance in Segovia, Spain, in 1984. Two songs from this concert were included on Mecano's 1985 album "Mecano: En Concierto."
1984: Collaboration with Stanley Myers on "Success Is the Best Revenge"
Zimmer and Myers continued their collaborative work on film scores, including the score for the 1984 film "Success Is the Best Revenge."
1985: Contributions to Shriekback's Album "Oil and Gold" and Release of "Mecano: En Concierto"
In 1985, Zimmer contributed to the album "Oil and Gold" by the British band Shriekback. The same year, "Mecano: En Concierto," featuring Zimmer's performance from the previous year, was released in Spain.
1985: Collaboration with Stanley Myers on "Insignificance" and "My Beautiful Laundrette"
In 1985, Zimmer and Myers collaborated on two film scores: "Insignificance" and "My Beautiful Laundrette."
1987: Composition of the "Going for Gold" Theme Song
In 1987, Zimmer, in collaboration with Sandy McClelland, composed the theme song for the television game show "Going for Gold."
1987: First Solo Score for "Terminal Exposure"
Zimmer composed his first solo film score for the film "Terminal Exposure" in 1987, also writing the songs for the film.
1988: Composition of the Score for "Rain Man"
A pivotal moment in Zimmer's career came in 1988 when he was hired to compose the score for Barry Levinson's film "Rain Man." This marked a turning point towards recognition in Hollywood.
1989: Academy Award Nomination for "Rain Man" Score
Zimmer's innovative and captivating score for "Rain Man" earned him his first Academy Award nomination in 1989. The film itself won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, solidifying Zimmer's presence in Hollywood.
1991: Soundtrack Release for "Thelma & Louise"
The soundtrack for Ridley Scott's film "Thelma & Louise" was released in 1991, featuring Zimmer's score with the memorable slide guitar performance by Pete Haycock on the "Thunderbird" theme.
1992: Divorce from Vicki Carolin
Hans Zimmer and his first wife, model Vicki Carolin, divorced in 1992. They have one child together.
1992: Composition of the Score for "The Power of One"
Zimmer's commitment to authenticity led him to travel to Africa to incorporate African choirs and drums into the score for the 1992 film "The Power of One."
1993: Composition of the "True Romance" Score
Zimmer composed the score for Tony Scott's film "True Romance" in 1993, drawing inspiration from Carl Orff's "Gassenhauer" for the film's main theme.
1994: Composition of the Score for "The Lion King"
Zimmer took on his first animated film score in 1994 with Disney's "The Lion King," a project that would become one of his most celebrated works.
1994: First Academy Award Win
Hans Zimmer won his first Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 67th Academy Awards for his work on the 1994 film "The Lion King."
1994: Academy Award for Best Original Score for "The Lion King"
Hans Zimmer won his first Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1994 for his work on the Disney animated film "The Lion King".
1995: Crimson Tide Grammy Award
In 1995, Hans Zimmer's score for Tony Scott's film Crimson Tide won a Grammy Award for the main theme, notable for its heavy use of synthesizers instead of traditional orchestral instruments.
1996: Richard Kirk Career Achievement Award
Zimmer was honored with the Richard Kirk Career Achievement Award from the BMI Film Music Awards in 1996.
1997: Adaptation of "The Lion King" into a Broadway Musical
Zimmer's iconic score for "The Lion King" was adapted for the stage in 1997, becoming a Broadway musical.
1998: The Thin Red Line Score
In 1998, Hans Zimmer's score for The Thin Red Line became one of his most significant works, featuring the iconic "The Journey to the Line" cue, known for its recurring four-chord theme and "ticking clock" motif. The piece has been widely used in trailers and video games, earning the nickname "the forbidden cue."
1998: Tony Award for Best Musical for "The Lion King"
The Broadway adaptation of "The Lion King" received critical acclaim, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1998.
1998: The Thin Red Line and The Prince of Egypt
In 1998, Hans Zimmer composed the score for The Thin Red Line, recording six and a half hours of music as requested by director Terrence Malick. He also worked on The Prince of Egypt, introducing Israeli Yemenite singer Ofra Haza to the film's directors, who were so impressed that they modeled a character after her.
1999: Hans Zimmer Publicly Acknowledges His Jewish Heritage
At the 1999 Berlin Film Festival, Zimmer publicly shared his experience as a Jewish person, including his mother's escape from Germany to England in 1939 to escape World War II.
October 2000: First Live Performance
In October 2000, Hans Zimmer performed live with an orchestra and choir for the first time at the 27th Annual Flanders International Film Festival in Ghent. This event marked a significant milestone in his career.
2000: Gladiator Score
In 2000, Hans Zimmer composed the score for the Hollywood blockbuster film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott. This work marked the beginning of a series of successful scores for major films throughout the decade.
2001: Scores for Black Hawk Down and Hannibal
In 2001, Hans Zimmer composed the scores for Ridley Scott's films Black Hawk Down and Hannibal, continuing his streak of high-profile film projects.
2002: Interview with Sound on Sound Magazine
In 2002, Zimmer gave an interview with Sound on Sound magazine where he discussed his approach to film scoring and revealed details about his use of synthesizers and samplers, such as the Roland MKS-20 for piano sounds in the "Driving Miss Daisy" score.
2003: Score for The Last Samurai
In 2003, Hans Zimmer composed the score for The Last Samurai, adding to his impressive portfolio of film scores in the 2000s.
2003: Pirates of the Caribbean Scoring
In 2003, Hans Zimmer was approached by producer Jerry Bruckheimer to rescore Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Due to his commitments on The Last Samurai, the task was given to Klaus Badelt, but Zimmer provided some themes used in the film.
2003: Career Achievement Awards and Honors
In 2003, Zimmer received the Career Achievement Award from the National Board of Review, the Frederick Loewe Award for Film Composing at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award.
2005: Score for Batman Begins
In 2005, Hans Zimmer co-composed the score for Christopher Nolan's film Batman Begins with James Newton Howard, beginning his influential work on the Batman series.
2005: Score for Madagascar
In 2005, Hans Zimmer composed the score for the animated film Madagascar, showcasing his versatility in scoring different types of films.
2006: Disqualified from Academy Awards
In 2006, Hans Zimmer's scores for some films were disqualified from Academy Award nominations due to too many composers being listed on the cue sheet. This highlighted the collaborative nature of modern film scoring.
2006: Hans Zimmer Discusses His Father's Death and Music as Solace
Zimmer shared in a 2006 interview with German television station ZDF that his father's death during his childhood led him to find solace and companionship in music.
2006: Score for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
In 2006, Hans Zimmer was hired as the composer for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, contributing to the popular film series.
2006: Score for The Da Vinci Code
In 2006, Hans Zimmer composed the score for The Da Vinci Code, continuing his successful collaboration with director Ron Howard.
2007: Hans Zimmer Named One of the Top 100 Living Geniuses
In 2007, Hans Zimmer was recognized for his exceptional talent and contributions to music when The Daily Telegraph included him in their list of Top 100 Living Geniuses.
2007: Score for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
In 2007, Hans Zimmer continued his work on the Pirates of the Caribbean series by composing the score for At World's End.
2007: Score for The Simpsons Movie
In 2007, Hans Zimmer composed the score for The Simpsons Movie, adding another high-profile project to his extensive career.
December 2008: Reversal of Academy Award Decision
In December 2008, Hans Zimmer succeeded in reversing the decision to disqualify The Dark Knight score from Academy Award nominations by arguing the importance of crediting all contributors in modern film scoring.
2008: Score for Kung Fu Panda
In 2008, Hans Zimmer co-composed the score for Kung Fu Panda with John Powell, marking another successful foray into animated film scoring.
2009: Scores for Angels & Demons, Sherlock Holmes, and More
In 2009, Hans Zimmer composed scores for multiple films, including Angels & Demons and Sherlock Holmes, further establishing his reputation as a leading film composer. He also worked on the Spanish language film Casi Divas and The Burning Plain.
2009: Score for Sherlock Holmes
In 2009, Hans Zimmer composed the score for Sherlock Holmes, using an out-of-tune piano for its unique sound. This innovative approach contributed to the film's distinctive musical style.
December 2010: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In December 2010, Zimmer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He dedicated the honor to his publicist and friend, Ronni Chasen, who had been tragically killed in Beverly Hills the previous month.
2010: Score for Inception
In 2010, Hans Zimmer composed the score for Inception, using electronic manipulation of the song "Non, je ne regrette rien." The iconic horn sound from the score became a popular feature in film trailers, contributing to the film's unique auditory identity.
2011: Score for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
In 2011, Hans Zimmer composed the score for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, collaborating with Rodrigo y Gabriela for the film's music.
2011: Score for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
In 2011, Hans Zimmer collaborated with director Guy Ritchie to incorporate authentic Romani music into the score for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. They conducted research by visiting Slovakia, Italy, and France.
April 2012: "The Lion King" Becomes Highest-Grossing Broadway Show
By April 2012, the musical adaptation of "The Lion King," featuring music by Zimmer, became the highest-grossing Broadway show of all time, solidifying its legacy in theatrical history.
July 2012: Score for The Dark Knight Rises
In July 2012, Hans Zimmer composed the score for The Dark Knight Rises, the final installment of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy. Following the tragic Aurora, Colorado shooting at a screening of the film, Zimmer recorded a track titled "Aurora" to raise funds for the victims.
February 2013: Hans Zimmer Shares Anecdotes About His Parents in a Mashable Interview
During a February 2013 interview with Mashable, Hans Zimmer provided insights into his upbringing, sharing anecdotes about his musically inclined mother and his engineer father who encouraged his experimentation with the piano.
March 2013: Music for The Bible Series
In March 2013, Hans Zimmer co-composed the music for the television series The Bible with Lorne Balfe and Lisa Gerrard. The series gained significant attention for its powerful score.
March 2014: Score for 12 Years a Slave
In March 2014, Hans Zimmer composed the score for 12 Years a Slave, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. His music contributed to the emotional depth of the film.
May 2014: Hans Zimmer Discusses Growing Up Jewish in Post-War Germany
In May 2014, Zimmer opened up in an interview about his experience of growing up Jewish in post-War Germany, revealing the difficulties and cautiousness his family faced.
July 2014: Tomorrowland Hymn
In July 2014, Hans Zimmer composed the Tomorrowland Hymn to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Tomorrowland festival, showcasing his ability to create music for diverse events.
2014: Scores for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Interstellar
In 2014, Hans Zimmer composed the music for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 alongside "The Magnificent Six" and for Christopher Nolan's film Interstellar, earning another Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score.
March 2016: Retirement from Superhero Films
In March 2016, Hans Zimmer announced his retirement from composing music for superhero films, expressing the difficulty he faced in finding a new language for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
June 2016: Stephen Hawking Medal
Zimmer was among the first recipients of the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication in June 2016.
2016: Planet Earth II Composition
In 2016, Hans Zimmer composed the main theme for the BBC nature documentary Planet Earth II, presented by David Attenborough.
2016: The Crown and Online Film Scoring Course
In 2016, Zimmer composed the main theme for the Netflix series "The Crown" and launched an online course on the fundamentals of film scoring.
November 2017: Asteroid Naming
In November 2017, a main-belt asteroid discovered in 2013 was officially named "Hanszimmer" in honor of the composer.
2017: Blue Planet II Composition
Hans Zimmer composed the score for the BBC nature documentary Blue Planet II, alongside Jacob Shea and David Fleming, presented by David Attenborough, in 2017.
2017: Dunkirk and Blade Runner 2049 Scores
Zimmer composed the score for Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk" in 2017, using a ticking watch from Nolan as inspiration. He also collaborated with Benjamin Wallfisch on the score for "Blade Runner 2049", taking over from Jóhann Jóhannsson.
August 2018: Wonder Woman 1984 Composer Announcement
It was announced in August 2018 that Hans Zimmer would be the composer for the film "Wonder Woman 1984."
October 2018: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Zimmer received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on October 2, 2018.
2018: Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award
Zimmer received the Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award at Hollywood in Vienna in 2018.
2018: FIFA Anthem and UEFA Champions League Anthem Remix
In 2018, Zimmer composed "Living Football," the new FIFA Anthem used for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He also collaborated with Vince Staples to remix the UEFA Champions League Anthem for the video game FIFA 19.
March 2019: Dune Composer Announcement
In March 2019, it was announced that Hans Zimmer would be composing the score for Denis Villeneuve's "Dune."
June 2019: BMW Vision M Next Sound Design
In June 2019, Hans Zimmer was hired by BMW to design unique sounds for their electric concept car, the Vision M Next. This included both interior and exterior sounds, intended to alert pedestrians and enhance the driving experience.
2019: Dark Phoenix and The Lion King Scores
Zimmer scored "Dark Phoenix" in 2019, going back on his previous statement about not composing for superhero films. He also worked on the score for the photorealistic remake of Disney's "The Lion King".
2019: Disney Legend Induction
Zimmer was honored as a Disney Legend in 2019.
January 2020: No Time to Die Composer
In January 2020, Zimmer was announced as the composer for the James Bond film "No Time to Die", taking over from Dan Romer. He expressed his deep respect for Daniel Craig's dedication to the role and aimed to honor the legacy of the franchise through his music.
February 2020: Major League Soccer Anthem
Zimmer composed the anthem for Major League Soccer's 25th season, released in February 2020.
March 2020: Hillbilly Elegy Score
In March 2020, Zimmer composed the score for the film "Hillbilly Elegy."
April 2020: Divorce Filing
On April 3, 2020, Zimmer filed for divorce from his second wife, Suzanne, with whom he has three children.
2021: Academy Award for Best Original Score for "Dune"
Hans Zimmer received his second Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work on the science fiction film "Dune" in 2021.
2021: Dune (2021) Score and Second Academy Award
Zimmer's score for the 2021 film "Dune" earned him his second Academy Award for Best Original Score. The music was released in several volumes.
2021: Second Academy Award Win
Zimmer's second Academy Award win for Best Original Score came at the 94th Academy Awards for his work on the 2021 film "Dune."
October 2022: Interview with Kirsty Wark
In October 2022, Zimmer expressed in a BBC Radio interview with Kirsty Wark that he considers his work on David Attenborough's nature documentaries to be his most significant, believing they hold potential for positive environmental impact.
2022: Twelve Academy Award Nominations and Two Wins
As of 2022, Zimmer has received twelve Academy Award nominations and two wins for his film scores.
2022: Frozen Planet II and Top Gun: Maverick
In 2022, Zimmer collaborated with Camila Cabello on the song "Take Me Back Home" for the documentary series "Frozen Planet II". He also contributed to the soundtrack of "Top Gun: Maverick," composing the main title theme and other tracks.
June 2023: Proposal to Dina De Luca
Zimmer proposed to his partner, Dina De Luca, on stage at London's O2 Arena during one of his concerts in June 2023.
2024: Dune Sequel, Potential Third Film, and F1 Project
Zimmer composed the score for the "Dune" sequel released in 2024 and is working on music for a potential third film. He also announced his involvement in scoring "F1," a film about Formula One racing starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski.