Kraftwerk

Genres:	Electronic & Ambient • Jazz • Pop / Rock
Descriptive "tags":	electronic • synthpop • german • electronica • electro • krautrock
Decades Active:	1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s
Links online:	BBC Music • Fan Page • IMDb • Official Homepage • Wikipedia • Wikipedia

Biography

The word ‘unique’ is over-used in music, but Kraftwerk have a stronger claim than most to the tag. Ralf Hütter (20 August 1946, Krefeld, Germany; organ) and woodwind student Florian Schneider-Esleben (b. 7 April 1947, Düsseldorf, Germany; woodwind) met while they were studying improvised music in Düsseldorf, Germany. They drew on the influence of experimental electronic forces such as composer Karlheinz Stockhausen and Tangerine Dream to create minimalist music on synthesizers, drum machines and tape recorders. Having previously recorded an album in 1970 with Organisation (Tone Float), Hütter and Schneider-Esleben formed Kraftwerk and recorded their debut album with drummers Andreas Hohmann and Klaus Dinger (b. 24 March 1946, Germany, d. 21 March 2008, Germany). Guitarist Michael Rother and bass player Eberhard Krahnemann were subsequently recruited for live performances at art galleries. Hütter briefly left the line-up, but...

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