Ludwig Gustav Hirsch was born in 1946 in Weinberg/Buch-St. Magdalena, Steiermark, Austria. After studying graphic arts at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, he switched to the Krauss drama school, beginning a career as an Austrian singer-songwriter and actor. His music career began in 1978 with the album Dunkelgraue Lieder, earning recognition as a representative of Austropop. Known for critical, macabre, and morbid lyrics, his song "Komm, großer schwarzer Vogel" was banned from late-night airplay due to its unsettling atmosphere. Hirsch released several albums, including Perlen (2002), which achieved gold status in Austria and earned him an Amadeus Austrian Music Award. He passed away in 2011, and received posthumous recognitions, including the Amadeus Austrian Music Award for his lifetime achievements in 2012.
