Kraftwerk’s Schneider Quits the Group

Brings to an end a fruitful 40-year collaboration.

By Fred Mills

Yesterday the following, succinct, bit of news was posted to the Kraftwerk website Minimum Maximum:

Florian Schneider leaves Kraftwerk... Florian Schneider leaves Kraftwerk after a 40 years partnership with Ralf Hütter. This partnership has generated an incredible music and  huge advances in music technology. Florian is a great musician, always seeking the  perfect sound through technology. Refined  and perfected sounds and vocoders to  impossible levels of perfection. Our thanks for the state of art that led to Kraftwerk's music all these years. And our wishes for success Florian's new projects as well as to this new Kraftwerk.

And that is that. The lack of specifics is, perhaps, appropriate, considering how notoriously guarded, hermetic, even, Kraftwerk has been with regards to its public face. More details as (if) they emerge.

Meanwhile, some Kraftwerk tour dates:

15 Mar 2009, 20:00, Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico
16 Mar 2009, 20:00, Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico
20 Mar 2009, 20:00, Praça Da Apoteose, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
22 Mar 2009, 20:00, Chacara Do Jockey, São Paulo, Brazil
24 Mar 2009, 20:00, Club Ciudad, Buenos Aires, Argentina
26 Mar 2009, 20:00, San Carlos De Apoquindo Stadium, Santiago, Chile
27 Mar 2009, 20:00, San Carlos De Apoquindo Stadium, Santiago, Chile
25 April 2009, 20:00, Wolfsburg, Germany
25 April 2009, 23:45, Wolfsburg, Germany
26 April 2009, 20:00, Wolfsburg, Germany