Editing Kraftwerk (section)

== History ==
=== Formation and early years (1970–1973) ===
[[Florian Schneider]] (flutes, synthesizers, violin) and [[Ralf Hütter]] (organ, synthesizers) met as students at the [[Robert Schumann Hochschule]] in Düsseldorf in the late 1960s, participating in the German [[experimental music]] and art scene of the time, which ''[[Melody Maker]]'' jokingly dubbed "[[krautrock]]".<ref name="Bussy">{{cite book |last=Bussy |first=Pascal |title=Kraftwerk—Man, Machine & Music |publisher=SAF Publishing |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-946719-70-9}}</ref>{{page needed|date=April 2019}}

They joined a quintet known as [[Organisation (band)|Organisation]], which released one album, ''[[Tone Float]]'' in 1970, issued on [[RCA Records]] in the UK, and split shortly thereafter.<ref>Pascal Bussy: "Kraftwerk: Man, Machine and Music", SAF Publishing Ltd., Reprinted 1993, 1997, 1999, {{ISBN|978-0-946719-70-9}}</ref> Schneider became interested in synthesizers,  deciding to acquire one in 1970. While visiting an exhibition in their hometown about visual artists [[Gilbert and George]], they see "two men wearing suits and ties, claiming to bring art into everyday life. The same year, Hütter and Schneider started bringing everyday life into art and form Kraftwerk".<ref name="Rogers">{{cite news |first=Jude |last=Rogers |author-link=Jude Rogers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jan/27/kraftwerk-most-influential-electronic-band-tate |title=Why Kraftwerk are still the world's most influential band |newspaper=The Observer |date=27 January 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |archive-date=2 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902181559/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jan/27/kraftwerk-most-influential-electronic-band-tate |url-status=live }}</ref>

Early Kraftwerk line-ups from 1970 to 1974 fluctuated, as Hütter and Schneider worked with around a half-dozen other musicians during the preparations for and the recording of three albums and sporadic live appearances, including guitarist [[Michael Rother]] and drummer [[Klaus Dinger]], who left to form [[Neu!]].<ref name="Bussy" />{{page needed|date=April 2019}} The only constant figure in these line-ups was Schneider, whose main instrument at the time was the flute; at times he also played the violin and guitar, all processed through a varied array of electronic devices. Hütter, who left the band for eight months to focus on completing his university studies, played synthesizer and keyboards (including Farfisa organ and electric piano).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Rother |url=https://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/michael-rother-tokyo-2014/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.redbullmusicacademy.com |language=en}}</ref>

The band released two free-form experimental rock albums, ''[[Kraftwerk (album)|Kraftwerk]]'' (1970) and ''[[Kraftwerk 2]]'' (1972). The albums were mostly exploratory musical improvisations played on a variety of traditional instruments including guitar, bass, drums, organ, flute, and violin. Post-production modifications to these recordings were used to distort the sound of the instruments, particularly audio-tape manipulation and multiple dubbings of one instrument on the same track. Both albums are purely instrumental. Live performances from 1972 to 1973 were mostly made as a duo, using a simple beat-box-type electronic [[drum machine]] with preset rhythms taken from an electric organ. Occasionally, they performed with bass players as well. These shows were mainly in Germany, with occasional shows in France.<ref name="Bussy" />{{page needed|date=April 2019}} Later in 1973, [[Wolfgang Flür]] joined the group for rehearsals, and the unit performed as a trio on the television show ''Aspekte'' for German television network [[ZDF]].<ref name="iwasarobot">{{cite book |last=Flür |first=Wolfgang |author-link=Wolfgang Flür |title='Kraftwerk': I Was A Robot |publisher=Sanctuary Publishing |year=1993 |isbn=978-1-86074-417-4}}</ref>

With ''[[Ralf und Florian]]'', released in 1973, Kraftwerk began to rely more heavily on synthesizers and drum machines. Although almost entirely instrumental, the album marks Kraftwerk's first use of the [[vocoder]] in the song "Ananas Symphonie" (Pineapple Symphony,) which became one of its musical signatures. According to English music journalist [[Simon Reynolds]], Kraftwerk were influenced by what he called the "adrenalized insurgency" of Detroit artists of the late '60s [[MC5]] and [[the Stooges]].<ref name="Reynolds">{{cite book |last=Simon |first=Reynolds |author-link=Simon Reynolds |title=Generation Ecstasy: into the world of techno and rave culture |publisher=Routledge |year=1999}}</ref>

The input, expertise, and influence of producer and engineer [[Conny Plank|Konrad "Conny" Plank]] was highly significant in the early years of Kraftwerk. Plank also worked with many of the other leading German electronic acts of that time, including members of [[Can (band)|Can]], [[Neu!]], [[Cluster (band)|Cluster]], and [[Harmonia (band)|Harmonia]]. As a result of his work with Kraftwerk, Plank's studio near [[Cologne]] became one of the most sought-after studios in the late 1970s. Plank co-produced the first four Kraftwerk albums.<ref name="Bussy" />{{page needed|date=April 2019}}

=== International breakthrough: ''Autobahn'' and ''Radioactivity'' (1974–1976) ===
{{Main|Autobahn (album)|Radio-Activity}}
[[File:Kraftwerk by Ueli Frey (1976).jpg|left|thumb|Concert in [[Zürich]], 1976]]

{{Listen
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The release of ''[[Autobahn (album)|Autobahn]]'' in 1974 saw Kraftwerk moving away from the sound of its first three albums. Hütter and Schneider had invested in newer technology such as the [[Minimoog]] and the [[EMS Synthi AKS]], helping give Kraftwerk a newer, "disciplined" sound. ''Autobahn'' was also the last album that [[Conny Plank]] engineered. After the commercial success of ''Autobahn'' in the US, where it peaked at number 5 in the [[Billboard 200|Billboard Top LPs & Tapes]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kraftwerk-p4706/charts-awards/billboard-albums |title=allmusic ((( Kraftwerk > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums ))) |website=AllMusic |access-date=9 July 2009}}</ref> Hütter and Schneider invested in updating their studio, thus lessening their reliance on outside producers. At this time the painter and graphic artist [[Emil Schult]] became a regular collaborator, designing artwork, cowriting lyrics, and accompanying the group on tour.<ref name="Bussy" />{{page needed|date=April 2019}}

The year 1975 saw a turning point in Kraftwerk's live shows. With financial support from [[Phonogram Inc.]], in the US, they were able to undertake a tour to promote the ''Autobahn'' album, a tour which took them to the US, Canada and the UK for the first time. The tour also saw a new, stable, live line-up in the form of a quartet. Hütter and Schneider continued playing keyboard synthesizers such as the [[Minimoog]] and [[ARP Odyssey]], with Schneider's use of flute diminishing. The two men started singing live for the first time, and Schneider processing his voice with a vocoder live. Wolfgang Flür and new recruit [[Karl Bartos]] performed on home-made electronic percussion instruments. Bartos also used a Deagan [[vibraphone]] on stage. The Hütter-Schneider-Bartos-Flür formation remained in place until the late 1980s and is now regarded as the classic live line-up of Kraftwerk. Emil Schult generally fulfilled the role of tour manager.<ref name="Bussy" />{{page needed|date=April 2019}}

After the 1975 ''Autobahn'' tour, Kraftwerk began work on a follow-up album, ''[[Radio-Activity]]'' (German title: ''Radio-Aktivität''). After further investment in new equipment, the [[Kling Klang Studio]] became a fully working recording studio. The group used the central theme in radio communication, which had become enhanced on their last tour of the United States. With Emil Schult working on artwork and lyrics, Kraftwerk began to compose music for the new record. Even though ''Radio-Activity'' was less commercially successful than ''Autobahn'' in the UK and United States, the album served to open up the European market for Kraftwerk, earning them a [[gold disc]] in France. Kraftwerk made videos and performed several European live dates to promote the album. With the release of ''Autobahn'' and ''Radio-Activity'', Kraftwerk left behind avant-garde experimentation and moved towards the electronic pop tunes for which they are best known.<ref name="Bussy" />{{page needed|date=April 2019}}

In 1976, Kraftwerk toured in support of the ''Radio-Activity'' album. [[David Bowie]] was among the fans of the record and invited the band to support him on his ''[[Station to Station]]'' tour, an offer the group declined.<ref>[[Richard Witts|Witts, Richard]]. "Vorsprung durch Technik ? Kraftwerk and the British Fixation with Germany". reproduced in "Kraftwerk: Music Non-Stop".  Continuum Books 2012</ref> Despite some innovations in touring, Kraftwerk took a break from live performances after the ''Radio-Activity'' tour of 1976.

=== ''Trans-Europe Express'', ''The Man-Machine'' and ''Computer World'' (1977–1982) ===
{{Main|Trans-Europe Express (album)|The Man-Machine|Computer World}}
After having finished the Radio-Activity tour Kraftwerk began recording ''[[Trans-Europe Express (album)|Trans-Europe Express]]'' (German: ''Trans-Europa-Express'') at the Kling Klang Studio. ''Trans-Europe Express'' was mixed at the [[Record Plant|Record Plant Studios]] in Los Angeles. It was around this time that Hütter and Schneider met David Bowie at the Kling Klang Studio. A collaboration was mentioned in an interview ([[Brian Eno]]) with Hütter, but it never materialised. The release of ''Trans-Europe Express''  in March 1977 was marked with an extravagant train journey used as a press conference by EMI France.  The album won a disco award in New York later that year.

In May 1978 Kraftwerk released ''[[The Man-Machine]]'' (German: ''Die Mensch-Maschine''), recorded at the Kling Klang Studio. Due to the complexity of the recording, the album was mixed at Studio Rudas in Düsseldorf. The band hired sound engineer Leanard Jackson from Detroit to work with Joschko Rudas on the final mix. ''The Man-Machine'' was the first Kraftwerk album where [[Karl Bartos]] was cocredited as a songwriter. The cover, produced in black, white and red, was inspired by Russian artist [[El Lissitzky]] and the [[Suprematism]] movement. Gunther Frohling photographed the group for the cover, a now-iconic image which featured the quartet dressed in red shirts and black ties. After it was released Kraftwerk did not release another album or tour for three years.

In May 1981 Kraftwerk released ''[[Computer World]]'' (German: ''Computerwelt'') on [[EMI Records]]. It was recorded at Kling Klang Studio between 1978 and 1981. Much of this time was spent modifying the studio to make it portable so the band could take it on tour. Some of the electronic vocals on ''Computer World'' were generated using a [[Texas Instruments]] language translator.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.datamath.org/Speech/LanguageTranslator.htm |title=Datamath |publisher=Datamath |date=5 December 2001 |access-date=24 August 2014 |archive-date=3 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003031106/http://www.datamath.org/Speech/LanguageTranslator.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> "[[Computer Love (Kraftwerk song)|Computer Love]]" was released as a single backed with the ''Man-Machine'' track "[[Das Model|The Model]]". Radio DJs were more interested in the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] so the single was repackaged by EMI and re-released with "The Model" as the A-side. The single reached number one in the UK, making "The Model" Kraftwerk's most successful song in that country.As a result, the ''Man-Machine'' album also became a success in the UK, peaking at number 9 in the [[UK albums chart|album chart]] in February 1982.<ref name="uk chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/kraftwerk/#albums |title=Kraftwerk albums Chart |website=Officialcharts.com |access-date=8 August 2013 |archive-date=22 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022132034/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/kraftwerk/#albums |url-status=live }}</ref> The band's live set focused increasingly on song-based material, with greater use of vocals and the use of sequencing equipment for both percussion and music. In contrast to their cool and controlled image, the group used sequencers interactively, which allowed for live improvisation. Ironically, Kraftwerk did not own a computer at the time of recording ''Computer World''.

Kraftwerk returned to live performance with the ''Computer World'' tour of 1981, where the band effectively packed up its entire Kling Klang studio and took it along on the road. It also made greater use of live visuals including back-projected slides and films synchronized with the music as the technology developed, the use of hand-held miniaturized instruments during the set, and the use of replica [[mannequin]]s of themselves to perform on stage during the song "The Robots".{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

=== ''Electric Café'' (1982–1989) ===
{{Main|Electric Café}}
In 1982 Kraftwerk began to work on a new album that initially had the working title ''[[Technicolor]]'' but due to trademark issues was changed to ''[[Electric Café]]'' for its original release in 1986 (for a remastered re-release in 2009, it was retitled again after its original working title, ''[[Techno Pop]]''). One of the songs from these recording sessions was "[[Tour de France (song)|Tour de France]]", which EMI released as a single in 1983. This song was a reflection of the band's new-found obsession with cycling. After the physically demanding ''Computer World'' tour, Ralf Hütter had been looking for forms of exercise that fitted in with the image of Kraftwerk; subsequently he encouraged the group to become vegetarians and take up cycling. "Tour de France" included sounds that followed this theme including bicycle chains, gear mechanisms and the breathing of the cyclist. At the time of the single's release Ralf Hütter tried to persuade the rest of the band that they should record a whole album based on cycling. The other members of the band were not convinced, and the theme was left to the single alone. "Tour de France" was released in German and French. The vocals of the song were recorded on the Kling Klang Studio stairs to create the right atmosphere. "Tour de France" was featured in the 1984 film ''[[Breakin']]'', showing the influence that Kraftwerk had on [[West Coast Hip Hop]].
In May or June 1982,<ref>[[Karl Bartos]] 2017, ''Der Klang der Maschine'', ch. 12</ref> during the recording of "Tour de France", Ralf Hütter was involved in a serious cycling accident.<ref name="Bussy" /> He suffered head injuries and remained in a coma for several days.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=John |date=2009-06-18 |title='I got a new head, and I'm fine' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jun/19/kraftwerk-hutter-manchester-international |access-date=2024-08-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> During 1983 Wolfgang Flür was beginning to spend less time in the studio. Since the band began using sequencers his role as a drummer was becoming less frequent. He preferred to spend his time travelling with his girlfriend. Flür was also experiencing artistic difficulties with the band. Though he toured the world with Kraftwerk as a drummer in 1981, his playing does not appear on that year's ''Computer World'' or on the 1986 album ''Electric Café''. In 1987 he made his last appearance with the band in "[[The Telephone Call]]" music video. As he declined to perform with the band in its Italian concerts in 1990 he was replaced on-stage by [[Fritz Hilpert]].<ref>Bartos, Karl ''The Sound of the Machine'' (Omnibus Press 2022), p. 481</ref>

=== ''The Mix'' (1990–1999) ===
{{Main|The Mix (Kraftwerk album)}}
After years of withdrawal from live performance Kraftwerk began to tour Europe more frequently. In February 1990 the band played a few secret shows in Italy. Karl Bartos left the band shortly afterwards. The next proper tour was in 1991, for the album ''[[The Mix (Kraftwerk album)|The Mix]]''. Hütter and Schneider wished to continue the synth-pop quartet style of presentation, and recruited [[Fernando Abrantes]] as a replacement for Bartos. Abrantes left the band shortly after though. In late 1991, long-time Kling Klang Studio sound engineer Henning Schmitz was brought in to finish the remainder of the tour and to complete a new version of the quartet that remained active until 2008.

In 1997 Kraftwerk made a famous appearance at the dance festival [[Tribal Gathering]] held in England.<ref>[http://www.physicsroom.org.nz/2cents/kraftwerk.htm 2 Cents: Kraftwerk, Tribal Gathering] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208125456/http://www.physicsroom.org.nz/2cents/kraftwerk.htm |date=8 February 2013 }} (25 May 1997).</ref> In 1998, the group toured the US and Japan for the first time since 1981, along with shows in Brazil and [[Argentina]]. Three new songs were performed during this period and a further two tested in soundchecks, which remain unreleased.<ref name="activitaet1997">{{cite web |title=Aktivitaet Online - Archive - General articles - Kraftwerk's live werk of Autumn 1997 |url=http://www.aktivitaet-fanzine.com/10_live.html |website=Activitaet Online |access-date=8 May 2020 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803101115/http://www.aktivitaet-fanzine.com/10_live.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following this trek, the group decided to take another break.<ref>[http://www.kraftworld.com.br/concerts/1998Tour.htm "Kraftworld, Kraftwerk 1998" Tour] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324235555/http://kraftworld.com.br/concerts/1998Tour.htm |date=24 March 2009 }}. ''kraftworld.com''. Retrieved 5 March 2009</ref>

In July 1999 the single "Tour de France" was reissued in Europe by EMI after it had been [[out of print]] for several years. It was released for the first time on CD in addition to a repressing of the 12-inch vinyl single. Both versions feature slightly altered artwork that removed the faces of Flür and Bartos from the four-man cycling paceline depicted on the original cover. In 1999 ex-member Flür published his autobiography in Germany, ''Ich war ein Roboter''. Later English-language editions of the book were titled ''Kraftwerk: I Was a Robot''.

In 1999, Kraftwerk were commissioned to create an [[a cappella]] [[jingle]] for the [[Hannover]] [[Expo 2000]] [[world's fair]] in Germany. The jingle was subsequently developed into the single "[[Expo 2000 (song)|Expo 2000]]", which was released in December 1999, and remixed and re-released as "Expo Remix" in November 2000.

=== ''Tour de France Soundtracks'' and touring the world (2000–2009) ===
{{Main|Tour de France Soundtracks|Minimum-Maximum}}
[[File:Kraftwerk live in Stockholm.jpg|thumb|In [[Stockholm]], February 2004]]
In August 2003 the band released ''[[Tour de France Soundtracks]]'', its first album of new material since 1986's ''Electric Café''. In January and February 2003, before the release of the album, the band started the extensive ''Minimum-Maximum'' world tour, using four customised [[Sony]] [[VAIO]] laptop computers, effectively leaving the entire Kling Klang studio at home in Germany. The group also obtained a new set of transparent video panels to replace its four large projection screens. This greatly streamlined the running of all of the group's sequencing, sound-generating, and visual-display software. From this point, the band's equipment increasingly reduced manual playing, replacing it with interactive control of sequencing equipment. Hütter retained the most manual performance, still playing musical lines by hand on a controller keyboard and singing live vocals and having a repeating [[ostinato]]. Schneider's live vocoding had been replaced by software-controlled speech-synthesis techniques. In November, the group made a surprising appearance at the MTV European Music Awards in [[Edinburgh]], Scotland, performing "Aerodynamik". The same year a promotional box set titled ''12345678'' (subtitled ''The Catalogue'') was issued, with plans for a proper commercial release to follow.  The box featured [[Audio mastering|remastered]] editions of the group's eight core studio albums, from ''Autobahn'' to ''Tour de France Soundtracks''. This long-awaited box-set was eventually released in a different set of remasters in November 2009.

In June 2005 the band's first-ever official live album, ''[[Minimum-Maximum]]'', which was compiled from the shows during the band's tour of spring 2004, received praise from ''[[NME]]''.<ref name="taylor">Tony Naylor. [https://www.nme.com/reviews/kraftwerk/7663 "Kraftwerk: Minimum-Maximum Live"]. ''[[NME]]'', 2 June 2005. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223710/http://www.nme.com/reviews/kraftwerk/7663 |date=3 March 2016 }}. Retrieved 8 August 2013</ref> The album contained reworked tracks from existing studio albums. This included a track titled "Planet of Visions" that was a reworking of "Expo 2000". In support of this release, Kraftwerk made another quick sweep around the [[Balkans]] with dates in [[Serbia]], [[Bulgaria]], [[North Macedonia|Macedonia]], [[Turkey]], and Greece. In December, the [[Minimum-Maximum (video)|''Minimum-Maximum'' DVD]] was released. During 2006, the band performed at festivals in Norway, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Belgium, and Germany.

In April 2008 the group played three shows in US cities [[Minneapolis]], [[Milwaukee]], and [[Denver]], and were a coheadliner at the [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]]. This was its second appearance at the festival since 2004. Further shows were performed in Ireland, Poland, [[Ukraine]], Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore later that year. The touring quartet consisted of Ralf Hütter, Henning Schmitz, [[Fritz Hilpert]], and video technician Stefan Pfaffe, who became an official member in 2008. Original member Florian Schneider was absent from the lineup. Hütter stated that he was working on other projects.<ref>{{cite news |first=Graham |last=Reid |title=Interview: Ralf Hutter of Kraftwerk |date=27 September 2008 |work=The New Zealand Herald |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10534357&pnum=0 |access-date=27 September 2008 |archive-date=14 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614185943/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10534357&pnum=0 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 21 November, Kraftwerk officially confirmed Florian Schneider's departure from the band;<ref>{{cite news |author=Music |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/4144592/Kraftwerks-co-founder-Florian-Schneider-leaves-band.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/4144592/Kraftwerks-co-founder-Florian-Schneider-leaves-band.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Kraftwerk's co-founder Florian Schneider leaves band |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=7 January 2009 |access-date=7 December 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[The Independent]]'' commented: "There is something brilliantly Kraftwerkian about the news that Florian Schneider, a founder member of the German electronic pioneers, is leaving the band to pursue a solo career. Many successful bands break up after just a few years. It has apparently taken Schneider and his musical partner, Ralf Hütter, four decades to discover musical differences."<ref name="independent editorial">[https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/leading-article-nice-werk-1229948.html Editorials leading article: "Nice Werk"]. ''The Independent''. 7 January 2009. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009195752/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/leading-article-nice-werk-1229948.html |date=9 October 2017 }}. Retrieved 8 August 2013</ref> Kraftwerk's headline set at Global Gathering in Melbourne, Australia, on 22 November was cancelled moments before it was scheduled to begin, due to Fritz Hilpert experiencing a medical emergency.<ref>''[http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/aust/40542/Illness_forces_Kraftwerk_to_miss_Melbourne_Global_Gathering Illness forces Kraftwerk to miss Melbourne Global Gathering]'', inthemix.com.au (23 November 2008), {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220181704/http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/aust/40542/Illness_forces_Kraftwerk_to_miss_Melbourne_Global_Gathering |date=20 December 2008 }}</ref>

In 2009, Kraftwerk performed concerts with special 3D background graphics in Wolfsburg, Germany; Manchester, UK; and Randers, Denmark. Members of the audience were able to watch this multimedia part of the show with 3D glasses, which were given out. During the Manchester concert (part of the 2009 [[Manchester International Festival]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mif.co.uk/ |title=MIF.co.uk |website=MIF.co.uk |access-date=7 December 2012 |archive-date=3 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203121234/http://www.mif.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> four members of the GB cycling squad ([[Jason Kenny]], [[Ed Clancy]], [[Jamie Staff]] and [[Geraint Thomas]]) rode around the Velodrome while the band performed "Tour de France".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jul/03/popandrock-kraftwerk |work=The Guardian |location=London |title=Kraftwerk/Steve Reich |first=Dave |last=Simpson |date=3 July 2009 |access-date=7 May 2010}}</ref> The group also played several festival dates, the last being at the [[Bestival 2009]] in September, on the [[Isle of Wight]].<ref>''[http://ventnorblog.com/bestival-09-kraftwerk-and-massive-attack-headline/ Kraftwerk to headline Bestival]'', ventnorblog.com (26 February 2009), {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302065209/http://ventnorblog.com/bestival-09-kraftwerk-and-massive-attack-headline/ |date=2 March 2009 }}</ref> 2009 also saw the release of ''[[The Catalogue]]'' box set in November.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=P25715_0_2_0 |title=More and more remastered Kraftwerk eight-CD promo boxed sets auctioned via eBay |website=Side-line.com |date=1 December 2012 |access-date=7 December 2012 |archive-date=30 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630153503/http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=P25715_0_2_0 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is a 12-inch album-sized box set containing all eight remastered CDs in cardboard slipcases, as well as LP-sized booklets of photographs and artwork for each individual album.

=== ''The Catalogue'' and continued touring (2010–2017) ===
{{Main|3-D The Catalogue}}
[[File:KRAFTWERK im Kiew 01.jpg|thumb|Kraftwerk performing in [[Kyiv]], 2008]]
Although not officially confirmed, Ralf Hütter suggested that a second boxed set of their first three experimental albums—''[[Kraftwerk (album)|Kraftwerk]]'', ''[[Kraftwerk 2]]'' and ''[[Ralf and Florian]]''—could be on its way, possibly seeing commercial release after their next studio album: "We've just never really taken a look at those albums. They've always been available, but as really bad [[bootleg recording|bootlegs]]. Now we have more artwork. [[Emil Schult|Emil]] has researched extra contemporary drawings, graphics, and photographs to go with each album, collections of paintings that we worked with, and drawings that Florian and I did. We took a lot of [[instant camera|Polaroids]] in those days." Kraftwerk also released an [[iOS]] app called Kraftwerk Kling Klang Machine.<ref>{{cite news |last=Witter |first=Simon |title=Article |website=Kraftwerk.technopop.com.br |url=http://kraftwerk.technopop.com.br/interview_123.php |date=Spring 2006 |access-date=25 November 2009 |archive-date=12 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412112707/http://kraftwerk.technopop.com.br/interview_123.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Lenbach House in Munich exhibited some Kraftwerk 3-D pieces in Autumn 2011. Kraftwerk performed three concerts to open the exhibit.<ref name="Lenbachhaus">{{cite web |title=Lenbachhaus – Kunstbau |url=http://www.lenbachhaus.de/cms/index.php?id=51&cHash=cc4d30f42b&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=176&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1&L=1 |website=Lenbachhaus.de |access-date=14 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426000911/http://www.lenbachhaus.de/cms/index.php?id=51&cHash=cc4d30f42b&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=176&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1&L=1 |archive-date=26 April 2012}}</ref>

Kraftwerk played at Ultra Music Festival in Miami on 23 March 2012. Initiated by [[Klaus Biesenbach]], the [[Museum of Modern Art]] of New York organized an exhibit titled ''Kraftwerk – Retrospective 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8'' where the band performed their studio discography from ''[[Autobahn (album)|Autobahn]]'' to ''[[Tour de France Soundtracks|Tour de France]]'' over the course of eight days to sell-out crowds. The exhibit later toured to the [[Tate|Tate Gallery]] as well as to [https://www.kunstsammlung.de/en/home.html K20] in Düsseldorf. Kraftwerk performed at the No Nukes 2012 Festival in Tokyo, Japan. Kraftwerk was also going to play at the Ultra Music Festival in [[Warsaw]], but the event was cancelled; instead, Kraftwerk performed at Way Out West in [[Gothenburg]]. A limited edition version of the ''Catalogue'' box set was released during the retrospective, restricted to 2000 sets. Each box was individually numbered and inverted the colour scheme of the standard box. In December, Kraftwerk stated on its website that it would be playing its ''Catalogue'' in Düsseldorf and at London's Tate Modern. Kraftwerk tickets were priced at £60 in London, but fans compared that to the $20 ticket price for tickets at New York's MoMA in 2012, which caused consternation. Even so, the demand for the tickets at The Tate was so high that it shut down the website.

In March 2013, the band was not allowed to perform at a music festival in China due to unspecified "political reasons".<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/mar/29/kraftwerk-denied-festival-appearance-in-china Kraftwerk denied festival appearance in China]. ''The Guardian''. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013</ref> In an interview in June after performing the eight albums of ''The Catalogue'' in Sydney, Ralf Hütter stated: "Now we have finished one to eight, now we can concentrate on number nine."<ref name="Street">P Street, Andrew. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/australia-culture-blog/2013/jun/12/kraftwerk-new-album-catalogue-sydney Kraftwerk's Ralf Hütter: 'Now we can concentrate on album number nine']. ''The Guardian''. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013</ref> In July, it performed at the 47th Montreux Jazz Festival. The band also played a 3-D concert on 12 July at Scotland's biggest festival – [[T in the Park]] – in Balado, Kinross, as well as 20 July at [[Latitude Festival]] in Suffolk, and 21 July at the Longitude Festival in Dublin.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/sun-cream-at-the-ready-as-longtitude-festival-gets-underway-in-marlay-park-1.1467913 |title=Sun cream at the ready as Longitude<!-- "Longtitude" in original --> festival gets underway in Marlay Park |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=19 June 2018 |first1=Ronan |last1=McGreevy |access-date=21 April 2020 |archive-date=24 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224064703/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/sun-cream-at-the-ready-as-longtitude-festival-gets-underway-in-marlay-park-1.1467913 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2013 the band played four concerts, over two nights, in [[Eindhoven]], Netherlands. The venue, [[Evoluon]] (the former technology museum of [[Philips Electronics]], now a conference center) was handpicked by Ralf Hütter,<ref>{{cite web |author=Reageren Uw reactie Naam E-mail adres Versturen |title=Kraftwerk: 'Optreden in Evoluon is geweldig' |url=http://www.ed.nl/extra/muziek/kraftwerk-optreden-in-evoluon-is-geweldig-1.4058625 |website=Ed.nl |access-date=24 August 2014 |archive-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502210754/http://www.ed.nl/extra/muziek/kraftwerk-optreden-in-evoluon-is-geweldig-1.4058625 |url-status=live }}</ref> for its [[retro-futuristic]] UFO-like architecture. Bespoke visuals of the building, with the saucer section descending from space, were displayed during the rendition of ''Spacelab.''<ref>{{cite web |author=saret97 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4RscwiGhAc | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/H4RscwiGhAc| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=Kraftwerk – Spacelab (Live @ Evoluon 18-10-2013) | date=18 October 2013 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=24 August 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2014, Kraftwerk brought its four-night, 3D ''Catalogue'' tour to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kraftwerk.laphil.com/ |title=Kraftwerk – KRAFTWERK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 – LAPhil |website=Kraftwerk.laphil.com |date=24 September 2012 |access-date=11 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209071956/http://kraftwerk.laphil.com/ |archive-date=9 February 2014}}</ref> and at NYC's [[United Palace Theatre]]. It also played at the Cirkus in Stockholm, Sweden and at the music festival [[Summer Sonic]] in Tokyo, Japan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Summer Sonic 2014 Lineup |url=http://www.summersonic.com/2014/lineup/ |website=Summersonic.com |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=24 August 2014 |archive-date=31 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831033551/http://www.summersonic.com/2014/lineup/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In November 2014 the 3D ''Catalogue'' live set was played in Paris, France, at the brand new Fondation Louis-Vuitton from 6 to 14 November.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myconcertarchive.com/en/event?id=38271 |title=Computer World (3-D Le Catalogue): Kraftwerk – Fondation Louis Vuiton, Paris – November 10, 2014 |work=My Concert Archive |access-date=28 September 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129210547/http://www.myconcertarchive.com/en/event?id=38271 |url-status=live }}</ref> and then in the iconic [[Paradiso (Amsterdam)|Paradiso]] concert hall in [[Amsterdam]], [[Netherlands]], where they played before in 1976.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nltimes.nl/2014/09/09/kraftwerk-sets-8-night-paradiso-residency/ |title=Kraftwerk sets 8-night Paradiso residency |work=NL Times |date=9 September 2014}}</ref> In 2015, Ralf Hütter, being told that the [[Tour de France]] would be starting that year in the nearby Dutch city of [[Utrecht]], decided that Kraftwerk would perform during the "Grand Départ". Eventually the band played three concerts 3 and 4 July in [[TivoliVredenburg]] performing "Tour de France Soundtracks" and visited the start of the Tour in-between.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Special Report Kraftwerk At The Tour De France – Electronic Sound |url=https://www.electronicsound.co.uk/features/long-reads/special-report-kraftwerk-at-the-tour-de-france/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

At the request of race director [[Christian Prudhomme]], Kraftwerk performed at the Tour de France on 1 July 2017, this time in Kraftwerk's hometown [[Düsseldorf]]. French electronic band [[Air (French band)|Air]] opened the concert, invited by Kraftwerk. Concertgoers were offered 3D glasses to perceive [[Stereoscopy|stereoscopic]] effects on the video screen.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-electronic-music-legends-kraftwerk-to-open-tour-de-france-in-dusseldorf/a-37344612 |title=Kraftwerk to open Tour de France in Dusseldorf |author=Kate Müser |date=31 January 2017 |newspaper=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=23 January 2023 |archive-date=3 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303132107/https://www.dw.com/en/german-electronic-music-legends-kraftwerk-to-open-tour-de-france-in-dusseldorf/a-37344612 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== ''3-D The Catalogue'' and Schneider's death (2017–present) ===
In April 2017, Kraftwerk announced ''[[3-D The Catalogue]]'', a live album and video documenting performances of all eight albums in ''The Catalogue'' that was released 26 May 2017. It is available in multiple formats, the most extensive of which being a 4-disc [[Blu-ray]] set with a 236-page hardback book. The album was nominated for the [[Grammy Award]]s for [[Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album|Best Dance/Electronic Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album|Best Surround Sound Album]] at the ceremony that took place on 28 January 2018, winning the former, which became the band's first Grammy win.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/40924|title=Kraftwerk and LCD Soundsystem among Grammy Awards 2018 winners|website=Resident Advisor|access-date=8 October 2019|archive-date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008165356/https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/40924|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 20 July 2018, at a concert in Stuttgart, German astronaut [[Alexander Gerst]] performed "Spacelab" with the band while aboard the [[International Space Station]], joining via a live video link. Gerst played melodies using a tablet as his instrument alongside Hütter as a duet, and delivered a short message to the audience.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCQEzgtWv-E|title=Good evening, Kraftwerk / Guten Abend Kraftwerk, guten Abend Stuttgart!|date=21 July 2018 |access-date=23 June 2021|publisher=YouTube|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421052014/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCQEzgtWv-E|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 20 July 2019, Kraftwerk headlined the Saturday night lineup on the [[Bernard Lovell|Lovell]] Stage at [[Bluedot Festival]], a music and science festival held annually at [[Jodrell Bank Observatory]], Cheshire, UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discoverthebluedot.com/profile/kraftwerk|title=Kraftwerk|website=Bluedot Festival|language=en|access-date=22 July 2019|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722223611/https://www.discoverthebluedot.com/profile/kraftwerk|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2019 festival celebrated the 50th anniversary of the [[Apollo 11]] Moon landing.

On 21 April 2020, Florian Schneider died at age 73 after a brief battle with cancer. On 3 July 2020, the German-language versions of ''Trans Europe Express'', ''The Man Machine'', ''Computer World'', ''Techno Pop'' and ''The Mix'', alongside ''3-D The Catalogue'', were released worldwide on streaming services for the first time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/colby-cosh-remembering-kraftwerks-florian-schneider-the-prophet-of-the-post-human|title=Remembering Kraftwerk's Florian Schneider, the prophet of the post-human|work=National Post|first=Colby|last=Cosh|date=8 May 2020|access-date=10 May 2020|archive-date=12 May 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200512072356/https://nationalpost.com/opinion/colby-cosh-remembering-kraftwerks-florian-schneider-the-prophet-of-the-post-human|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider-Esleben dies aged 73 |url=https://apnews.com/62ea80e5b55964628898ed76b447eeb1 |website=AP News |date=6 May 2020 |access-date=7 May 2020 |archive-date=7 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507005610/https://apnews.com/62ea80e5b55964628898ed76b447eeb1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2 July 2020|title=Kraftwerk's German language albums, 3-D documentary hit streaming services for first time|url=https://consequence.net/2020/07/kraftwerk-add-five-unavaiable-albums-tidal-and-amazon/|access-date=4 July 2020|website=Consequence of Sound|language=en-US|archive-date=15 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815031624/https://consequence.net/2020/07/kraftwerk-add-five-unavaiable-albums-tidal-and-amazon/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 21 December 2020, Parlophone/WEA released ''Remixes'', a digital [[compilation album]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Remixes |url=https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/remixes-kraftwerk/r9xaxf7f7f95b |website=Qobus |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-date=5 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105151836/https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/remixes-kraftwerk/r9xaxf7f7f95b |url-status=live }}</ref> It includes remixed tracks taken from singles released 1991, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2007, plus the previously unreleased "Non Stop", a version of "[[Musique Non-Stop]]" used as a jingle by [[MTV Europe]] beginning in 1993.<ref>{{cite web |title=MTV Europe - Music Non-Stop (1993-97) - ALL Idents |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eeQjo8A2MI | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/_eeQjo8A2MI| archive-date=30 October 2021|website=YouTube | date=5 June 2013 |access-date=16 February 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The cover re-uses the cover from "[[Expo 2000|Expo Remix]]". The compilation was released on CD and vinyl in 2022.

On 30 October 2021, Kraftwerk was inducted into the [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kraftwerk have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame |url=https://mixmag.net/read/kraftwerk-inducted-into-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-news |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Mixmag}}</ref> In November 2021, the band announced plans for a 2022 North American tour.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Minsker|first=Evan|title=Kraftwerk Announce 2022 North American Tour|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kraftwerk-announce-2022-north-american-tour/|date=1 November 2021|access-date=1 November 2021|website=Pitchfork|archive-date=1 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101144257/https://pitchfork.com/news/kraftwerk-announce-2022-north-american-tour/|url-status=live}}</ref> With the members' live performances celebrating Kraftwerk's fiftieth anniversary, the ''Remixes'' compilation album came out on compact disc and vinyl for the first time in addition.<ref name="Young"/>

From 27 May to 10 July 2022, the formation undertook a successful North American tour, performing in 24 cities.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kraftwerk-north-american-tour-dates-2022-1251454|title=Tourdates 2022|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=2021}}</ref>

Since 2023, it has begun visualising its music on the façades of castles and other historic buildings in a special way.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK32u_50Y4E|title=Optic & Music I|website=[[YouTube]] |date=2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stimme.de/freizeit/kultur/kultur/die-mensch-maschine-beeindruckendes-konzert-vonkraftwerk-in-karlsruhe-art-4830757|title=Optic & Music II|date=2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.krone.at/3448226|title=Optic & Music III|date=2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bild.de/regional/dresden/trotz-hochwasser-in-dresden-kraftwerk-spielen-vor-der-semperoper-66e54b1ee3fed11bdbc997a5|title=Optic & Music IV|date=2024}}</ref>

In May 2024, it performed nine nights at the [[Walt Disney Concert Hall]] in Los Angeles, presenting one of its eight albums each night and another concert as the ninth gig.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Madison|first=Evan|title=Kraftwerk Announce Career-Spanning Residency in Los Angeles|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kraftwerk-announce-career-spanning-residency-in-los-angeles/|date=10 January 2024|access-date=1 February 2024|website=Pitchfork|archive-date=6 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206023943/https://pitchfork.com/news/kraftwerk-announce-career-spanning-residency-in-los-angeles/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 27 July 2024, at the [[Fuji Rock Festival]] in [[Naeba Ski Resort|Naeba]], Kraftwerk played a cover version of another artist's work for the first time: "[[Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (instrumental)|Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence]]" by [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]], who died in 2023. Hütter had been friends with Sakamoto since 1981. After performing "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence", Kraftwerk played "Radioactivity", for which Sakamoto wrote the Japanese lyrics in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kraftwerk perform 'Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence' in tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto|url=https://mixmag.net/read/kraftwerk-perform-merry-christmas-mr-lawrence-tribute-ryuichi-sakamoto-japan-news|access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Mixmag}}</ref>

On 4 December 2024, Kraftwerk announced their Multimedia Tour to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ''Autobahn'', enlisting professional skateboarder [[Tony Hawk]] in doing so.<ref>{{cite news |last=Madarang |first=Charisma |date=5 December 2024 |title=Kraftwerk Celebrate 50 Years of 'Autobahn,' Announce 2025 North American Tour |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kraftwerk-2025-north-american-tour-dates-1235194423/ }}</ref>