Kraftwerk split !

I was not aware that Florian Schneider had left Kraftwerk on November 21st - but it appears to be true according to this Wikipedia article:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraftwerk

Very sad New Order split and now Kraftwerk have lost Florian. Although it looks like Kraftwerk will continue without Florian it won't be the same imho (a bit like New Order without Hooky). I remember when Wolfgang and Karl left in the early 90s this was a shame but not a huge deal as to me Kraftwerk were always Ralf und Florian. But now with Florian out of the picture as well this spells the end of the band for me.

Kraftwerk were the first band I got into as a kid back in the 70s (when I got a beat up vinyl copy of Autobahn from my local library for 50p). For a while I only listened to German electronic music (Krautrock) - Joy Division were the first British group I got into. So for me this is a very sad end of an era.

Bollocks.

It's true he's not doing the tour (apparently he's always been reluctant to do so) however it will take more than a Wikipedia entry (linking to a fan site) to convince me.

Besides, at their workrate it'll be 2030 before we know for definate.

FDISK wrote: Bollocks.

It's true he's not doing the tour (apparently he's always been reluctant to do so) however it will take more than a Wikipedia entry (linking to a fan site) to convince me.

Besides, at their workrate it'll be 2030 before we know for definate.

I concur, this reminds me of the night Depeche played a city, Kansas I think and Dave left midshow due to an illness, and everyone jumepd to it being Devotional era drug abuse. People tend to jump the gun way too easily now.

Well, Florian hasn't been on their recent shows (he wasn't at either the Coachella or Poland shows) - at least a year, I think now?

Nick King wrote: Well, Florian hasn't been on their recent shows (he wasn't at either the Coachella or Poland shows) - at least a year, I think now?

Yes at least a year and I would normally be very sceptical about a report like this but the quote is very specific "November 21st 2008 : Florian Schneider has quit Kraftwerk". The specific date here makes me think there might be something to this. Here is the original source :-

http://www.elektrodaten.de/

...also I believe Dirk Matten (author of the above page) is a close friend of the group (not just any old fan).

Adam Tate wrote: to me Kraftwerk were always Ralf und Florian.

Bobbins. Even Ralf left the band for a brief period in the early 70s. I actually think that Florian leaving (if that indeed is true) would be a really cool thing - because that would mean that no-one has been a member of the band for it's entire existence. I've always believed that the Kraftwerk concept is stronger than any individual member. Bear in mind that Ralf for decades have been speaking about the possibility of the band keeping on long since it's original members have passed away. After all, it's the Man Machine we're talking about, not a regular rock n roll outfit.

Dirk Matten has apparently also said that Florian didn't do a whole lot on the Soundtracks album. We will know for sure when the next release comes along and Florian is no longer listed as a member or writer.

Here's the new guy, he looks the part:

Ruskprick wrote: . Bear in mind that Ralf for decades have been speaking about the possibility of the band keeping on long since it's original members have passed away. .

Was going to say that but couldn't remember if it was them or PSB that had that idea.Maybe both have mentioned it at some point.

Ruskprick wrote:

Adam Tate wrote: to me Kraftwerk were always Ralf und Florian.

Bobbins. Even Ralf left the band for a brief period in the early 70s. I actually think that Florian leaving (if that indeed is true) would be a really cool thing - because that would mean that no-one has been a member of the band for it's entire existence. I've always believed that the Kraftwerk concept is stronger than any individual member. Bear in mind that Ralf for decades have been speaking about the possibility of the band keeping on long since it's original members have passed away. After all, it's the Man Machine we're talking about, not a regular rock n roll outfit.

.. this idea of keeping the band going after the original members have passed away is interesting. If they were to do that Kraftwerk would be being treated like a company brand name. You can buy a new MG Sports car today but do you still feel the same about now it is built in China by completely different workforce? Similarly would you still accept Kraftwerk with all new members?

When it comes to music I prefer the concept promoted by Joy Division - when one member goes you change the name. One of the best pieces of decision making the band ever made. Joy Division's perfect canon of music is now forever frozen in time (unsullied by the members later indiscretions). Kraftwerk would do well to note this as their back catalogue still looks pretty classy (unlike that of New Order - Jetstream featuring Ana Matronic indeed).

Welcome back to Brazil in March Krafty! Just gimme one more day! Gimme another night

The Brazilian fan site Technopopalso stated that Fritz Hilpert recently had a heart attack but was now back with the band.

johnny wrote:

Ruskprick wrote: . Bear in mind that Ralf for decades have been speaking about the possibility of the band keeping on long since it's original members have passed away. .

Was going to say that but couldn't remember if it was them or PSB that had that idea.Maybe both have mentioned it at some point.

Do not shoot the messenger. PSB did mention something like this, remember seeing Neil Tennant interviewed during which he discussed the idea of still writing the music but getting two young singers to do the hard work,they were Ant and Dec. Sorry!

Love the idea of Kraftwerk evolving though, but it could get farcical if they changed every couple of years.

johnny james wrote: Dirk Matten has apparently also said that Florian didn't do a whole lot on the Soundtracks album. We will know for sure when the next release comes along and Florian is no longer listed as a member or writer.

Here's the new guy, he looks the part:

FOOKING HELL! When did BALDRICK join??

Ruskprick wrote: I've always believed that the Kraftwerk concept is stronger than any individual member. Bear in mind that Ralf for decades have been speaking about the possibility of the band keeping on long since it's original members have passed away.

Menudo!

johnny james wrote:

thought he looked familiar

That guy's a Dr Who baddie surely?

Davros' brother or something.

His Holiness, The Pope wrote:

Ruskprick wrote: I've always believed that the Kraftwerk concept is stronger than any individual member. Bear in mind that Ralf for decades have been speaking about the possibility of the band keeping on long since it's original members have passed away.

Menudo!

Doctor? wrote: That guy's a Dr Who baddie surely?

Davros' brother or something.

Must be their coffee and cycling dependency taking its toll.

Fookin poofs

They have not been exactly a wellspring of creativity the last 25 years, its not like he is quitting in 1978. So they are just going to be their own homage imitation act? If they are still a real band with some fresh members, should they not make some new records?

I just wish they'd release that fucking remastered box set commercially, so I don't have to pay £300 green sheets for the cunt.

Brixton back in 91 stands out, just for how fucking hardcore they sounded, the bass rumbled your very innards.

Adam Tate wrote:

Doctor? wrote: That guy's a Dr Who baddie surely?

Davros' brother or something.

Same tailor anyway.

What people shouldn't forget is that Fritz Hilpert and Henning Schmidt are long standing members of the band and hardly new boys. They've certainly been there for far longer than Wolfgang Flur and Karl Bartos were, though it has to be said that the period with Wolfgang and Karl was somewhat more creative in terms of records.

johnny james wrote: What people shouldn't forget is that Fritz Hilpert and Henning Schmidt are long standing members of the band and hardly new boys. They've certainly been there for far longer than Wolfgang Flur and Karl Bartos were, though it has to be said that the period with Wolfgang and Karl was somewhat more creative in terms of records.

If by 'more creative' you mean they actually released stuff...

FDISK wrote:

johnny james wrote: What people shouldn't forget is that Fritz Hilpert and Henning Schmidt are long standing members of the band and hardly new boys. They've certainly been there for far longer than Wolfgang Flur and Karl Bartos were, though it has to be said that the period with Wolfgang and Karl was somewhat more creative in terms of records.

If by 'more creative' you mean they actually released stuff...

I'd say 'more creative' actually meaning much fucking better.

With Flur and Bartos they wrote Autobahan, Radioactivity, Trans Europe Express, Showroom Dummies, The Model, The Robots, Computer Love, It's More Fun to Compute, The Telephone Call, and Music Non Stop (and by that I mean with them being in the band, not necessarily on co-writing duty, though Bartos did some of that)

With Hilpert and Schmidt, they have, in the past 17 years, remixed their own tracks, and released an album which contained 3 versions of the same song, and 1 version of a song from 1984.

It's not like they're busy - just think of all that Teutonic talent, and all that technology, doing sod all day after day after day.

FDISK wrote: Bollocks.

It's true he's not doing the tour (apparently he's always been reluctant to do so) however it will take more than a Wikipedia entry (linking to a fan site) to convince me.

Besides, at their workrate it'll be 2030 before we know for definate.

...seems to be true:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7813200.stm

The info has still not come from an actual official source, this latest round of reports all originated from news posted on the Brazilian KW site:

http://kraftwerk.technopop.com.br/news.php

...however, it probably is true.

Adam Tate wrote:

FDISK wrote: Bollocks.

It's true he's not doing the tour (apparently he's always been reluctant to do so) however it will take more than a Wikipedia entry (linking to a fan site) to convince me.

Besides, at their workrate it'll be 2030 before we know for definate.

...seems to be true:-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7813200.stm

Granted, it seems to be more likely; however the latest speculation all seems to be centred on info from the Brazilian Technopop fansite which is not official as far as I'm aware. Their statement, widely quoted, especially by the BBC is clearly not from the band and is badly translated to English by whoever wrote it!

I heard about this the other day. Florian had declined to appear live with them last year. Can anyone confirm whether he played the Polish gigs last September or not? If he didn't, maybe he was planning to go then and was cajoled to stay on. It's a damned shame and effectively the end of Kraftwerk as a creative entity really as Ralf and Florian were the creative hub of the band.

It's interesting to note that Karl and Wolfgang considered themselves full members of Kraftwerk during the years they played with them (more than ten and nigh-on fifteen), they were made aware in no uncertain terms that they were hired hands and nothing more after Electric Cafe was released. This callous and ungrateful attitude was at the centre of their reasons to quit apparently, that and the fact that KW at that point rarely played live.

A bit on BBC Ceefax yesterday said that KW had accepted Radiohead's invitation to tour with them this year. As raised on here, would KW continue if Ralf Hutter retired? Could it be they see Kraftwerk as an eternal brand like Volkswagen or something?!

El Jarvo wrote:

Chemical wrote: Can anyone confirm whether he played the Polish gigs last September or not?

Didn't play Krakow. He didn't actually play any gigs with the band last year.

I asked the guy at the mixing desk in german after the 3rd gig in Krakow.

Q: Why isn't Florian here? A: He isn't here. Q: I hope, he isn't ill. Is all o.k. with him? A: Yes, he isn't ill.

:D

Now it's official. Harald Engel, EMI, confirmed to the Rheinische Post, Düsseldorf, yesterday: "Yes, it's right. Florian Schneider left."

Rheinische Post: Band-Aus Kraftwerk-Mensch verlässt Maschine

Steffan Phiaff, who replaced Florian Schneider in Kraftwerk is not doing the music on stage, he's dealing with the actual visual side of the band. Ralf Hutter probably wanted to keep Kraftwerk a 4 piece band, hence putting Steffan in Florian's stage position on stage. The console Steffan uses is a video mix system, as in their last on stage track 'Music Non Stop' you will note Steffan steps off stage well before the track has finished and it is Henning Schmitz, Fritz Hillpert and Ralf Hutter doing all the music on stage. Both Henning, Fritz and Steffan were origionally part of the Kling-Klang Studio production staff but were bought in to replace Wolfgang Flur, Karl Bartos and Florian Schneider-Esleben (As that is Florian's full name)

The Band continues on into 2010 with a promised new album maybe out soon, or next year, as Ralf Hutter has hinted. It might be interesting to note that the Kling-Klang Studio is no longer in dusseldorf itself, but Ralf Hutter has purchased a new building where all Kraftwerk's administration, Music Production and Rehearsal room for live shows is now based. The origional building which Kling-Klang studio was based is no longer used. With the advancement in technology, i guess the band don't need such a large space as they tend to use small podium mounted instruments, although i expect the band also has a huge bank of instruments all rack'ed up by the production area of their new studio.

Ralf, Henning, Fritz and Steffan are now Kraftwerk, and the band is still producing music, although there has been a great number of peronelle changes as well as stylistic changes since the band first became a unit in 1970! It is a band i respect very much and one i hope will continue on well into the future

It's "Ralf and his friends" but not Kraftwerk anymore :D .

I didn't notice this thread last year-or-so, and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

It is very difficult to be original these days, even when you are reinterpreting your own music - Tour de France 2003 being an example. Yes, I agree that the band should think of a new name.

Burt, you won't need me reminding you that a-ha called it a day last year because they wanted to go out on a high after two poor previous albums (Lifelines and Analogue).

Empress Touch wrote:

Burt, you won't need me reminding you that a-ha called it a day last year because they wanted to go out on a high after two poor previous albums (Lifelines and Analogue).

Well they fucked that plan up then.

The thread necromancy should be ignored with such an informative post.

I wanted to visit the Kling Klang studios but never got the chance when I lived an hour away.

Is it worth seeing them live with just their laptops? The older videos always seemed more interesting.