The co-founder of the German electronic synth pioneers Kraftwerk, Florian Schneider has died at the age of 73.
A statement read that he “passed away from a short cancer disease just a few days after his 73rd birthday”.
The ecletic quartet of musicians set the template for synthesiser music in the 1970s and 80s with iconic songs like Autobahn and The Model.
They were hugely innovative and inspired artists across many differing musical genres becoming godfathers for latter-day techno creators and hip-hop masters.
Also the late great David Bowie named ‘V-2 Schneider’ on his Heroes album after Schneider while Depeche Mode, New Order and Daft Punk were also all influenced.
Schneider formed the group alongside Ralf Hütter in 1970 before his departure in 2008.
German group Kraftwerk posed in Rotterdam, Netherlands on 21st March 1976.
L-R Florian Schneider, Karl Bartos, Wolfgang Flur and Ralf Hutter.
