Kraftwerk

this whole "does kraftwerk dislike or hate reggae" issue is pretty funny

“It was meant to be a duet between Kraftwerk and Gregory Isaacs,” recalls Green. “We got a positive response from Gregory Isaacs’ management, but nothing from Kraftwerk. A few years later, I met Kraftwerk. I went to see Tito Puente with Ralf [Hutter] and Florian [Schneider]. I think I brought it up, and I remember them saying that they hated reggae.”

--

I wrote a song called "The 'Sweetest Girl'", and I went to [Rough Trade's] Geoff Travis and told him I wanted to get Gregory Isaacs to do it with Kraftwerk. I don't really know how that would have worked. We did get a response from Gregory's management saying that he would be up for it. We didn't get a response from Kraftwerk, though. I did meet [Kraftwerk's] Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider a few years later in New York at a Tito Puente gig. They were kind of vague about whether or not they knew that I had approached them, but they did say that they didn't like reggae.

we may never know.

everyone should be free to dislike anything. it's not like musicians are sage, super-human creatures - we all have limitations, many of them self-imposed, at any moment in time.

I close can't stand reggae either, because it's been ruined for me as a signifier for bored bourgeouis youth trying hard to let their hair down. although I have accrued lots of reggae albums myself, I still have this pain inside when thinking of college parties. I love dub though, and I also like whenever my favourite white musicians dabble in reggae (for example, Duran Duran with "The Reflex" live in '87).

I'm sure if KW said they can't stand country music (as many musicians have gone on record saying it) no one would have but flipped an eyelid.

I read in the recently published book 'Kraftwerk: Future Music From Germany' by Uwe Schutte that Michael Jackson was up for collaborating in the 80s but they were having none of it

Green would've been better off approaching YMO if he wanted an electronic act, they'd collaborate with pretty much anyone and everyone.

Hearing a reggae version of Kometenmelodie 2 in my head now thx thread

I'm sure you know this already but MJ did record a version of "Behind the Mask" for Thriller, not sure why it was axed

Apparently YMO's management dithered for too long about the proposed royalty rates and the Jackson camp lost patience. A real shame, as its inclusion would have (a) made Thriller even better and (b) made Sakamoto a very wealthy man.
Jackson was made aware of BtM by his keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, who subsequently released his own version of it, using Jackson's rewritten lyrics. That arrangement was then adopted by, of all people, Eric Clapton.

YMO (well, Ryuichi Sakamoto) even collaborated with Kraftwerk! They got him to write new lyrics in Japanese for Radioactivity after the Fukushima disaster

日本でも　放射能
きょうも　いつまでも
フクシマ　放射能
空気　水　すべて
日本でも　放射能
いますぐ　やめろ

There’s radioactivity also in Japan
Today and Forever
Fukushima Radioactivity
Air Water Everything
There’s radioactivity also in Japan
Stop Right Now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWsQgmq-fNs

I did meet [Kraftwerk's] Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider a few years later in New York at a Tito Puente gig.

this is amazing

I read somewhere that Jimi Hendrix hated surf music...

That's it, I don't like Jimi Hendrix anymore.

thats when jimi hendrix became...james hendricks to me

Unconfirmed rumours that Florian Schneider has passed away.

According to a close associate of the group, Schneider left Kraftwerk on 21 November 2008, due to a dispute over a bicycle pump.

Xp fucking hell. Pls no

Ahhh man.

really hoping this is some Kim Jong Un situation

I used to have the albums from Autobahn to Computer World framed in my basement, just recently I replaced them just cuz it's been a while. My wife's reaction..."awww, I miss the guys"

Rumour seems to be gathering pace but no confirmation as yet.

Coming here to see if anyone's found confirmation, just heard the rumour through the grapevine so far.

Billboard: https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/9372433/florian-schneider-dead-kraftwerk-co-founder-dies :(

uuugghhh RIP

Holding out hope until it's officially confirmed.

fuuuuck

:(

RIP Florian Schneider.

73 is no age for a robot :(

aw, RIP :(

Sony in Germany confirming, saying it was cancer-related:

https://www.focus.de/kultur/musik/mitgruender-von-kraftwerk-musik-pionier-florian-schneider-esleben-stirbt-mit-73-jahren-an-krebserkrankung_id_11962516.html

:-(

shit!

This sucks :(

Seems to be true. RIP Florian, my favourite Monkee Kraftwerk ;_;

Gah. RIP.

Christ, this is as bad as 2016. RIP, Florian. May flights of vocoders sing thee to thy rest.

Much computer love :(

RIP

I got to see them in Milwaukee in 2008 - was strange because they did like 2-3 shows a year then and they just happened to randomly pick Milwaukee. Must've been one of the last shows he ever did.

Was a really cool night...I was 22 and there were a lot of people who looked even younger than me. Like high schoolers in custom made Kraftwerk shirts. Although it was basically the same thing as the Minimum-Maximum DVD, seeing and hearing it in person is something else. Feeling the Autobahn bassline in your chest is a hell of an experience.

rip florian x

rip to the god. is minimum-maximum available to stream anywhere?

fuck. RIP.

RIP, the most human of the robots and a killer flautist.
this clip of him having fun with his pocket calculator makes me smile every time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mopXKac2R3E

This clip!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABOMrTgPNZA

I've probably watched that Taschenrechner clip two dozen times

Florian 'breaks character' there, it's hilarious

that was awesome

RIP

Think it was a regular routine to have some fun during Pocket Calculator. Florian did it the only time I saw them (on The Mix tour).

Radio 3 playing a little tribute to Florian right now which is v moving

Florian and Juan Atkins at the liquor store:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EXbj9zPWoAEWPC-.jpg

aw man, that's amazing

What a great photo