Early life Meier was born on 4 March 1945 in
Zürich, Switzerland. He started studying law at university but dropped out without a degree. After that he tried working at a bank and as a professional
gambler. Due to his father, who Meier claims rose from poor origins to become a successful private banker, by the time he went to university, Meier was already a millionaire.
Musical career In the late 1970s, Meier was brought in when the two founders of the Swiss electronic band
Yello required a singer. The band was originally formed by
Boris Blank (keyboards, sampling, percussion, backing vocals) and
Carlos Perón (tapes) in the late 1970s. Perón left the band in 1983 to pursue a solo career. Meier provided almost all vocals, backing vocals and lyrics for "
Oh Yeah", Yello's most commercially successful single. The song appears in numerous films and television shows, including ''
Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' and an episode of
South Park "
Hell on Earth 2006". Along with
Talking Heads vocalist
David Byrne, Meier was a guest artist on the
X-Press 2 album
Muzikizum. He also performed lead vocals on the single "I Want You Back". Prior to Yello in 1978 he recorded two punk singles "Jim For Tango" and "Cry For Fame".
Artist As a conceptual artist, he exhibits at
art exhibitions. He began his career as a performance artist in the late 1960s. In 1972 as part of
Documenta 5 art exhibition, Meier installed a
commemorative plaque at the railway station in
Kassel (Germany) which read: "On 23 March 1994, from 3 to 4 pm, Dieter Meier will stand on this plaque". He honored the promise 22 years later. Meier has directed films and videos, including German music group
Alphaville's "
Big in Japan"
video. His wife Monique also took a part in the video. In the 1990s Meier continued his performance art, designed silk scarves and was involved with ReWATCH, a company that recycles cans into watches. In the late nineties, he bought of land in
Argentina, a four-hour drive away from
Buenos Aires. The ranch is named "Ojo de Agua". His restaurant and store in Zürich has the same name from which he sells wine, meat, corn and soy products.
Acting In 1989, Meier played a
demimonde businessman in the Swiss drama-comedy
Leo Sonnyboy by
Rolf Lyssy, and in 1992 he had a part in the
Daniel Schmid comedy,
Hors Saison. In 2006 he acted in the bit part of 'Gamsie' in ''
National Lampoon's Pledge This! In 2013, he played a furrier in the film Finsterworld''.
Business ventures Meier has invested in several companies in various industries. He acquired a controlling interest in
Euphonix, a producer of digital mixing desks for
recording studios, and became chairman of the board. ==Personal life==