In 2021, Kraftwerk will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the early influence category. == History == === Formation and early years (1969–1973) === Florian Schneider (flutes, synthesizers, violin) and Ralf Hütter (organ, synthesizers) met as students at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf in the late 1960s, participating in the German experimental music and art scene of the time, which Melody Maker jokingly dubbed "krautrock".
This trait can be traced back to the group's roots in the first experimental Krautrock scene of the late 1960s, but, significantly, it has continued to be a part of its playing even as it makes ever greater use of digital and computer-controlled sequencing in its performances.
Kraftwerk (, "power station") is a German band formed in Düsseldorf in 1969 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider.
They joined a quintet known as Organisation, which released one album, Tone Float in 1969, issued on RCA Records in the UK, and split shortly thereafter.
Schneider became interested in synthesizers, deciding to acquire one in 1970.
The same year, Hütter and Schneider started bringing everyday life into art and form Kraftwerk". Early Kraftwerk line-ups from 1970 to 1974 fluctuated, as Hütter and Schneider worked with around a half-dozen other musicians during the preparations for and the recording of three albums and sporadic live appearances, including guitarist Michael Rother and drummer Klaus Dinger, who left to form Neu!.
As a result of his work with Kraftwerk, Plank's studio near Cologne became one of the most sought-after studios in the late 1970s.
Live performances from 1972 to 1973 were mostly made as a duo, using a simple beat-box-type electronic drum machine with preset rhythms taken from an electric organ.
Live performances from 1972 to 1973 were mostly made as a duo, using a simple beat-box-type electronic drum machine with preset rhythms taken from an electric organ.
Later in 1973, Wolfgang Flür joined the group for rehearsals, and the unit performed as a trio on the television show Aspekte for German television network ZDF. With Ralf und Florian, released in 1973, Kraftwerk began to rely more heavily on synthesizers and drum machines.
The band first performed in public with this device in 1973, on the television program Aspekte (on the all-German channel Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), where it was played by Wolfgang Flür.
The same year, Hütter and Schneider started bringing everyday life into art and form Kraftwerk". Early Kraftwerk line-ups from 1970 to 1974 fluctuated, as Hütter and Schneider worked with around a half-dozen other musicians during the preparations for and the recording of three albums and sporadic live appearances, including guitarist Michael Rother and drummer Klaus Dinger, who left to form Neu!.
Plank coproduced the first four Kraftwerk albums. === International breakthrough: Autobahn and Radioactivity (1974–1976) === The release of Autobahn in 1974 saw Kraftwerk moving away from the sound of its first three albums.
At this time the painter and graphic artist Emil Schult became a regular collaborator, designing artwork, cowriting lyrics, and accompanying the group on tour. The year 1975 saw a turning point in Kraftwerk's live shows.
Emil Schult generally fulfilled the role of tour manager. After the 1975 Autobahn tour, Kraftwerk began work on a follow-up album, Radio-Activity (German title: Radio-Aktivität).
Hütter and Schneider hold a patent for an electronic drum kit with sensor pads, filed in July 1975 and issued in June 1977.
With the release of Autobahn and Radio-Activity, Kraftwerk left behind avant-garde experimentation and moved towards the electronic pop tunes for which they are best known. In 1976, Kraftwerk toured in support of the Radio-Activity album.
Despite some innovations in touring, Kraftwerk took a break from live performances after the Radio-Activity tour of 1976. === Trans-Europe Express, The Man-Machine and Computer World (1977–1982) === After having finished the Radio-Activity tour Kraftwerk began recording Trans-Europe Express (German: Trans-Europa Express) at the Kling Klang Studio.
and then in the iconic Paradiso concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where they played before in 1976.
They created drum machines for Autobahn and Trans-Europe Express On the Radio-Activity tour in 1976 Kraftwerk tested out an experimental light-beam-activated drum cage allowing Flür to trigger electronic percussion through arm and hand movements.
The release of Trans-Europe Express in March 1977 was marked with an extravagant train journey used as a press conference by EMI France.
Hütter and Schneider hold a patent for an electronic drum kit with sensor pads, filed in July 1975 and issued in June 1977.
David Bowie's "V-2 Schneider", from the 1977's Heroes album, was a tribute to Florian Schneider.
The album won a disco award in New York later that year. In May 1978 Kraftwerk released The Man-Machine (German: Die Mensch-Maschine), recorded at the Kling Klang Studio.
It was recorded at Kling Klang Studio between 1978 and 1981.
The Hütter-Schneider-Bartos-Flür formation remained in place until the late 1980s and is now regarded as the classic live line-up of Kraftwerk.
AllMusic wrote that their music "resonates in virtually every new development to impact the contemporary pop scene of the late 20th century". Kraftwerk's musical style and image can be heard and seen in 1980s synth-pop groups such as Gary Numan, Ultravox, John Foxx, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Human League, Depeche Mode, Visage, and Soft Cell.
After it was released Kraftwerk did not release another album for three years. In May 1981 Kraftwerk released Computer World (German: Computerwelt) on EMI Records.
It was recorded at Kling Klang Studio between 1978 and 1981.
Ironically Kraftwerk did not own a computer at the time of recording Computer World. Kraftwerk returned to live performance with the Computer World tour of 1981, where the band effectively packed up its entire Kling Klang studio and took it along on the road.
Though he toured the world with Kraftwerk as a drummer in 1981, his playing does not appear on that year's Computer World or on the 1986 album Electric Café.
In 1998, the group toured the US and Japan for the first time since 1981, along with shows in Brazil and Argentina.
As a result, the Man-Machine album also became a success in the UK, peaking at number 9 in the album chart in February 1982.
"Tour de France" was featured in the 1984 film Breakin', showing the influence that Kraftwerk had on black American dance music. In May or June 1982, during the recording of "Tour de France", Ralf Hütter was involved in a serious cycling accident.
One of the songs from these recording sessions was "Tour de France", which EMI released as a single in 1983.
During 1983 Wolfgang Flür was beginning to spend less time in the studio.
"Tour de France" was featured in the 1984 film Breakin', showing the influence that Kraftwerk had on black American dance music. In May or June 1982, during the recording of "Tour de France", Ralf Hütter was involved in a serious cycling accident.
Though he toured the world with Kraftwerk as a drummer in 1981, his playing does not appear on that year's Computer World or on the 1986 album Electric Café.
The jingle was subsequently developed into the single "Expo 2000", which was released in December 1999, and remixed and re-released as "Expo Remix" in November 2000. === Tour de France Soundtracks and touring the world (2000–2009) === In August 2003 the band released Tour de France Soundtracks, its first album of new material since 1986's Electric Café.
Following the release of Electric Café (1986), Wolfgang Flür left the group in 1987, followed by percussionist Karl Bartos in 1990.
In 1987 he left the band and was replaced by Fritz Hilpert. === The Mix (1990–1999) === After years of withdrawal from live performance Kraftwerk began to tour Europe more frequently.
Siouxsie and the Banshees recorded a cover of "Hall of Mirrors" on their 1987 album Through the Looking Glass which was lauded by Ralf Hütter: "In general, we consider cover versions as an appreciation of our work.
Following the release of Electric Café (1986), Wolfgang Flür left the group in 1987, followed by percussionist Karl Bartos in 1990.
In February 1990 the band played a few secret shows in Italy.
The next proper tour was in 1991, for the album The Mix.
In late 1991, long-time Kling Klang Studio sound engineer Henning Schmitz was brought in to finish the remainder of the tour and to complete a new version of the quartet that remained active until 2008. In 1997 Kraftwerk made a famous appearance at the dance festival Tribal Gathering held in England.
It includes remixed tracks taken from singles released 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2007, plus the previously unreleased "Non Stop", a version of "Musique Non-Stop" used as a jingle by MTV Europe beginning in 1993.
Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, founding members of OMD, have stated that Kraftwerk was a major reference on their early work, and covered "Neon Lights" on the 1991 album, Sugar Tax.
The version of "Hall of Mirrors" by Siouxsie and the Banshees is extraordinary, just like the arrangements of Alexander Bălănescu for his Balanescu Quartet release [of Possessed, 1992].
It includes remixed tracks taken from singles released 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2007, plus the previously unreleased "Non Stop", a version of "Musique Non-Stop" used as a jingle by MTV Europe beginning in 1993.
In late 1991, long-time Kling Klang Studio sound engineer Henning Schmitz was brought in to finish the remainder of the tour and to complete a new version of the quartet that remained active until 2008. In 1997 Kraftwerk made a famous appearance at the dance festival Tribal Gathering held in England.
Rammstein also covered their song "Das Modell", releasing it as a non-album single in 1997.
In 1998, the group toured the US and Japan for the first time since 1981, along with shows in Brazil and Argentina.
Following this trek, the group decided to take another break. In July 1999 the single "Tour de France" was reissued in Europe by EMI after it had been out of print for several years.
In 1999 ex-member Flür published his autobiography in Germany, Ich war ein Roboter.
Later English-language editions of the book were titled Kraftwerk: I Was a Robot. In 1999, Kraftwerk were commissioned to create an a cappella jingle for the Hannover Expo 2000 world's fair in Germany.
The jingle was subsequently developed into the single "Expo 2000", which was released in December 1999, and remixed and re-released as "Expo Remix" in November 2000. === Tour de France Soundtracks and touring the world (2000–2009) === In August 2003 the band released Tour de France Soundtracks, its first album of new material since 1986's Electric Café.
It includes remixed tracks taken from singles released 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2007, plus the previously unreleased "Non Stop", a version of "Musique Non-Stop" used as a jingle by MTV Europe beginning in 1993.
Later English-language editions of the book were titled Kraftwerk: I Was a Robot. In 1999, Kraftwerk were commissioned to create an a cappella jingle for the Hannover Expo 2000 world's fair in Germany.
The jingle was subsequently developed into the single "Expo 2000", which was released in December 1999, and remixed and re-released as "Expo Remix" in November 2000. === Tour de France Soundtracks and touring the world (2000–2009) === In August 2003 the band released Tour de France Soundtracks, its first album of new material since 1986's Electric Café.
This included a track titled "Planet of Visions" that was a reworking of "Expo 2000".
A limited edition version of the Catalogue box set was released during the retrospective, restricted to 2000 sets.
It includes remixed tracks taken from singles released 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2007, plus the previously unreleased "Non Stop", a version of "Musique Non-Stop" used as a jingle by MTV Europe beginning in 1993.
The music sequencer was used by the band for the first time to control the electronic sources creating the rhythmic sound of the album Trans-Europe Express. Since 2002, Kraftwerk's live performances have been conducted with the use of virtual technology (i.e.
The jingle was subsequently developed into the single "Expo 2000", which was released in December 1999, and remixed and re-released as "Expo Remix" in November 2000. === Tour de France Soundtracks and touring the world (2000–2009) === In August 2003 the band released Tour de France Soundtracks, its first album of new material since 1986's Electric Café.
In January and February 2003, before the release of the album, the band started the extensive Minimum-Maximum world tour, using four customised Sony VAIO laptop computers, effectively leaving the entire Kling Klang studio at home in Germany.
This long-awaited box-set was eventually released in a different set of remasters in November 2009. In June 2005 the band's first-ever official live album, Minimum-Maximum, which was compiled from the shows during the band's tour of spring 2004, received extremely positive reviews.
This was their second appearance at the festival since 2004.
It includes remixed tracks taken from singles released 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2007, plus the previously unreleased "Non Stop", a version of "Musique Non-Stop" used as a jingle by MTV Europe beginning in 1993.
This long-awaited box-set was eventually released in a different set of remasters in November 2009. In June 2005 the band's first-ever official live album, Minimum-Maximum, which was compiled from the shows during the band's tour of spring 2004, received extremely positive reviews.
During 2006, the band performed at festivals in Norway, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Belgium, and Germany. In April 2008 the group played three shows in US cities Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Denver, and were a coheadliner at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
It includes remixed tracks taken from singles released 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2007, plus the previously unreleased "Non Stop", a version of "Musique Non-Stop" used as a jingle by MTV Europe beginning in 1993.
Instead, callers were instructed to phone the studio precisely at a certain time, whereupon the phone would be answered by Ralf Hütter, despite never hearing the phone ring. Chris Martin of Coldplay recalled in a 2007 article in Q magazine the process of requesting permission to use the melody from the track "Computer Love" on "Talk" from the album X&Y.
Founding member Schneider left in 2008. The band's work has influenced a diverse range of artists and many genres of modern music, including synth-pop, hip hop, post-punk, techno, ambient, and club music.
In late 1991, long-time Kling Klang Studio sound engineer Henning Schmitz was brought in to finish the remainder of the tour and to complete a new version of the quartet that remained active until 2008. In 1997 Kraftwerk made a famous appearance at the dance festival Tribal Gathering held in England.
During 2006, the band performed at festivals in Norway, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Belgium, and Germany. In April 2008 the group played three shows in US cities Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Denver, and were a coheadliner at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
The touring quartet consisted of Ralf Hütter, Henning Schmitz, Fritz Hilpert, and video technician Stefan Pfaffe, who became an official member in 2008.
This long-awaited box-set was eventually released in a different set of remasters in November 2009. In June 2005 the band's first-ever official live album, Minimum-Maximum, which was compiled from the shows during the band's tour of spring 2004, received extremely positive reviews.
It has apparently taken Schneider and his musical partner, Ralf Hütter, four decades to discover musical differences." Kraftwerk's headline set at Global Gathering in Melbourne, Australia, on 22 November was cancelled moments before it was scheduled to begin, due to a Fritz Hilpert heart problem. In 2009, Kraftwerk performed concerts with special 3D background graphics in Wolfsburg, Germany; Manchester, UK; and Randers, Denmark.
During the Manchester concert (part of the 2009 Manchester International Festival) four members of the GB cycling squad (Jason Kenny, Ed Clancy, Jamie Staff and Geraint Thomas) rode around the Velodrome while the band performed "Tour de France".
The group also played several festival dates, the last being at the Bestival 2009 in September, on the Isle of Wight.
The Lenbach House in Munich exhibited some Kraftwerk 3-D pieces in Autumn 2011.
Kraftwerk performed three concerts to open the exhibit. Kraftwerk played at Ultra Music Festival in Miami on 23 March 2012.
Kraftwerk performed at the No Nukes 2012 Festival in Tokyo, Japan.
Kraftwerk tickets were priced at £60 in London, but fans compared that to the $20 ticket price for tickets at New York's MoMA in 2012, which caused consternation.
Even so, the demand for the tickets at The Tate was so high that it shut down the website. In March 2013, the band was not allowed to perform at a music festival in China due to unspecified "political reasons".
The band also played a 3-D concert on 12 July at Scotland's biggest festival – T in the Park – in Balado, Kinross, as well as 20 July at Latitude Festival in Suffolk, and 21 July at the Longitude Festival in Dublin. In October 2013 the band played four concerts, over two nights, in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
In 2014, the Recording Academy honoured Kraftwerk with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Bespoke visuals of the building, with the saucer section descending from space, were displayed during the rendition of Spacelab. In 2014, Kraftwerk brought their four-night, 3D Catalogue tour to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and at NYC's United Palace Theatre.
In November 2014 the 3D Catalogue live set was played in Paris, France, at the brand new Fondation Louis-Vuitton from 6 to 14 November.
In 2015, Ralf Hütter, being told that the Tour de France would be starting that year in the nearby Dutch city of Utrecht, decided that Kraftwerk would perform during the "Grand Depart".
Eventually the band played three concerts 3 and 4 July in TivoliVredenburg performing "Tour de France Soundtracks" and visited the start of the Tour in-between. === 3-D The Catalogue and Schneider's death (2017–present) === In April 2017, Kraftwerk announced 3-D The Catalogue, a live album and video documenting performances of all eight albums in The Catalogue that was released 26 May 2017.
They later won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album with their live album 3-D The Catalogue (2017) at the 2018 ceremony.
The album was nominated for the Grammy Awards for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Surround Sound Album at the ceremony that took place on 28 January 2018, winning the former, which became the band's first Grammy win. On 20 July 2018, at a concert in Stuttgart, German astronaut Alexander Gerst performed "Spacelab" with the band while aboard the International Space Station, joining via a live video link.
Gerst played melodies using a tablet as his instrument alongside Hütter as a duet, and delivered a short message to the audience. On 20 July 2019, Kraftwerk headlined the Saturday night lineup on the Lovell Stage at Bluedot Festival, a music and science festival held annually at Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire, UK.
The 2019 festival celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. On 21 April 2020, Florian Schneider died at age 73 after a brief battle with cancer.
As of 2020, the band continues to tour.
The 2019 festival celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. On 21 April 2020, Florian Schneider died at age 73 after a brief battle with cancer.
On 3 July 2020, the German-language versions of Trans Europe Express, The Man Machine, Computer World, Techno Pop, and The Mix, alongside 3-D The Catalogue were released worldwide on streaming services for the first time. On 21 December 2020, Parlophone released Remixes, a digital compilation album.
In 2021, Kraftwerk will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the early influence category. == History == === Formation and early years (1969–1973) === Florian Schneider (flutes, synthesizers, violin) and Ralf Hütter (organ, synthesizers) met as students at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf in the late 1960s, participating in the German experimental music and art scene of the time, which Melody Maker jokingly dubbed "krautrock".
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