Autobahn Exit
January 7, 2009
And then there were three.
Kraftwerk's record label confirmed Tuesday, Jan. 6, that Florian Schneider has left the Duesseldorf-based group, but the reason for his departure wasn't given.
Kraftwerk built the foundation for electro-pop and scored a chart-topping global hit with "Autobahn" in 1974.
EMI verifies decision
News of the departure was first reported on the Web site Kraftwerk in November but gained prominence when the Kraftwerk Official Fan Web Site posted a short statement on Monday, Jan. 5.
It said: "Florian Schneider leaves Kraftwerk after a 40 year partnership with Ralf Huetter." It added that the partnership between the pair generated "incredible music and huge advances in music technology."
In an e-mail to the Associated Press, EMI Germany confirmed the move but did not elaborate.
Electro-pop pioneer
Schneider and Huetter founded the band together in 1970. Huetter and the remaining two band members will continue performing under the name Kraftwerk, and will tour South America with Radiohead.
Kraftwerk is known for its pioneering influence in electronic music.