I am so deeply saddened to have to tell you that our very own Rambo, Gernot Müller, has died. Ramin Roushanaei, a close friend of his, posted the awful news on Facebook, revealing that Gernot had been ill with cancer. Given ten months by the doctors, he lasted three years, yet told nobody but his wife. It was what he preferred to do. This means that he was already unwell when he had the awesome picture shoot of him taken with daughter Emily that graced the cover of issue four.
You cannot make a magazine about slingshots on your own. It takes a genius designer and heaps of awesome content from awesome people. Over time and now that we are working on issue seven, it is clear that the magazine has friends that often appear, either through being generally awesome or for taking fabulous pictures. Folks like Mark “Slingshot Stig” Clark (yes, it was him…) and John “I effing LOVE catapults!” Jeffries, (see quote at end of issue ONE)
And catapult art has always been a strong thing in the magazine. I rapidly became aware that there was huge talent out there and for asking, folks would send me their beautiful images for readers to feel the spirit of the place taken and the desirable catapult frame nestling on a beautiful background.
And although there are a few folks who do this and have prodigious talent, the very best slingshot photographer ever, was Gernot. His beautiful photography has featured in every single issue from issue one. And by issue four, I wanted him on the front cover. He went out with his daughter Emily on an occasion when she was visiting and took the time to make an amazing photo shoot that became the cover.
By issue six, I felt I had to let others have a chance, but his pictures will be remembered forever. I was proud to have known him and it hit like a boot in the guts to see the news. As I write, I still have not really taken it in and feel that horrible shock.
Survived by daughter Emily, son Jannes and his wife Christina. Our hearts go out to you. Gernot was an amazing man and will be sorely missed. The Slingshot World seems a little darker today…
