Kraftwerk, German for “power plant” or “power station”) is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The signature Kraftwerk sound combines driving, repetitive rhythms with catchy melodies, mainly following a Western classical style of harmony, with a minimalistic and strictly electronic instrumentation.
The group’s simplified lyrics are at times sung through a vocoder or generated by computer-speech software. In the early to late 1970s and the early 1980s, Kraftwerk’s distinctive sound was revolutionary for its time, and it has had a lasting impact across many genres of modern popular music.
Bibliography
* 1994 : “Kraftwerk: Man, Machine and Music” by Pascal Bussy
* 1998 : “Kraftwerk: From Düsseldorf to the Future” by Tim Barr
* 1999 : “Kraftwerk: I Was a Robot” by Wolfgang Flür
* 2000 : “A Short Introduction to Kraftwerk” by Vanni Neri & Giorgio Campani
* 2002 : “Kraftwerk: The Music Makers” by Albert Koch
* 2005 : “Kraftwerk Photobook” by Kraftwerk (included in the Minimum-Maximum Notebook set)
Sheet music
* 1981 : “Computer World” double-page published in Electronics & Music Maker magazine, September 1981 issue
* 1983 : “Tour de France” folded sheet, sub-published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd
* 2003 : “The Model” digital download, published by Music Sales Ltd
* 2009 : “Kraftwerk Songbook”, 88 page book, published by Bosworth Music GmbH
Band Members
Current members
* Ralf Hütter – synthesizers, organ, lead vocals; bass guitar, drums, percussion (early period)
* Fritz Hilpert – sound engineering, electronic percussion
* Henning Schmitz – sound engineering, electronic percussion, live keyboards.
* Stefan Pfaffe – video technician
Past members
* Karl Bartos – electronic percussion (1975–1991), live vibraphone (1975), keyboards on Computer World tour (1981)
* Klaus Dinger – drums (1970-1971)
* Wolfgang Flür – electronic percussion (1973–1987)
* Andreas Hohmann – drums (1970)
* Klaus Röder – guitar, electro-violin (1974)
* Michael Rother – guitar (1971)
* Florian Schneider – synthesizers, background vocals, computer-generated vocals; flutes, guitar, percussion, violin (early period) (1970-2008)
Musicians who have played in live performances with the group include:
* Fernando Abrantes – electronic percussion
* Emil Schult – guitar, electro-violin
* Plato Kostic (a.k.a. Plato Riviera) – bass guitar.
* Peter Schmidt – drums
* Houschäng Néjadepour – guitar
* Charly Weiss – drums
* Thomas Lohmann – drums
* Eberhard Kranemann – bass guitar
