Kraftwerk

This article is about the band. For their debut album, see Kraftwerk (album).

Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk performing at the Royal Albert Hall 2017. From left to right: Ralf Hütter, Henning Schmitz, Fritz Hilpert and Falk Grieffenhagen
Kraftwerk performing at the Royal Albert Hall 2017. From left to right: Ralf Hütter, Henning Schmitz, Fritz Hilpert and Falk Grieffenhagen
Background information
OriginDüsseldorf, West Germany
Genres
DiscographyKraftwerk discography
Years active1970 (1970)–present
Labels
SpinoffsNeu!
Spinoff ofOrganisation
Members
Past members
Websitekraftwerk.com

Kraftwerk (German pronunciation: [ˈkʁaftvɛʁk] ⓘ, lit. 'power plant') are a German electronic band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk were among the first successful acts to popularize the genre. The group began as part of West Germany's experimental krautrock scene in the early 1970s before fully embracing electronic instrumentation, including synthesizers, drum machines, and vocoders. Wolfgang Flür joined the band in 1973 and Karl Bartos in 1975, expanding the band to a quartet.

On commercially successful albums such as Autobahn (1974), Trans-Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), and Computer World (1981), Kraftwerk developed a self-described "robot pop" style that combined electronic music with pop melodies, sparse arrangements, and repetitive rhythms, while adopting a stylized image including matching suits. Following the release of Electric Café (1986), Flür left the group in 1987, followed by Bartos in 1990. The band released Tour de France Soundtracks, their latest album of new material, in 2003. Founding member Schneider left in 2008. The band, with new members, has continued to tour under the leadership of Hütter.

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, house music, ambient, and club music.[1] In 2014, the Recording Academy honoured Kraftwerk with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.[2] They later won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album with their live album 3-D The Catalogue (2017) at the 2018 ceremony. In 2021, Kraftwerk was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the early influence category.[3] As of 2024, the band continues to tour,[4] with the members' live performances celebrating Kraftwerk's fiftieth anniversary.[5]

  1. ^ Schütte, Uwe (June 2017). "See them to believe it: why Kraftwerk is the world's most influential band". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
    "Kraftwerk Are More Influential Than The Beatles. Let Us Explain". LA Weekly. 26 September 2017. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
    "Why Kraftwerk are still the world's most influential band". The Guardian. 27 January 2013.
    "Kraftwerk - Pop Art (documentary 2013)". YouTube. 14 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021.
  2. ^ Grammy Academy. "Lifetime Achievement Award: Kraftwerk" Archived 21 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 14 January 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014
  3. ^ "Tina Turner, Jay-Z, Foo Fighters Among Those Inducted Into Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  4. ^ "CONCERTS". Kraftwerk.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  5. ^ Young, Alex (29 March 2022). "Kraftwerk Add New Dates to 2022 North American Tour". Consequence.net. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.