One small thing: Wolfgang Flur wasn't a founding member of Kraftwerk: he joined three or four years after they were founded by Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider (and left in the mid 80s). I don't know if it was Peter personally saying that in that Tweet but seeing things like this make you realise that you have to take everything else he says with a pinch of salt.

Deleted, as I got my 'quotes' wrong and couldn't edit (marked as 'spam'). Correct post below.

Edited by user 15 January 2022 05:24:06(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Bartos had a degree in percussion from university and co-wrote a number of tracks with the band. He also sang lead vocals on one of their popiest tracks, single The Telephone Call, which they now ignore. When their box set The Cataloge was issued, they substituted the 8 minute long track with a short [single?] version of the track and a dub version to lessen Karl's contribution. But, of course, Wolfgang was "the cute one".

Wolfgang's importance probably falls somewhere between our two perceptions, but we can agree that it's disheartening that he and Karl have been treated so poorly after their time with the band.

Just seen this on the Wikipedia page for 'Electric' Café':

"It is the last Kraftwerk album to feature percussionist Wolfgang Flür – and as with 1981's Computer World he only appears on the cover design, not on the recordings. He left the group in 1987."

Is this true? Weird if so.

Presumably they're saying that he was just kept for the live performances.


And, yeah, agreed with what you're saying about Karl, Andy. He was very much under appreciated and agree that messing about with 'The Telephone Call' on the remaster was probably done deliberately to underplay his contribution.


Kraftwerk were magnificent. And by Kraftwerk, I mean, Ralf and Florian and Karl and Wolfgang.

Edited by user 16 January 2022 04:00:53(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

https://youtu.be/-djcEuQRru0

The song sounds nice, I really wished Peter Hooks part was much louder and not that muted and I didn't like the talking in the middle of the song that much but overall a good song 3/5

Late to this thread.Gave the Birmingham track a listen. Interesting choice of subject for a song."Meet me in the West Midlands", Claudia sings, and who could resist an invitation like that? "She wraps me up and then lets go", yes Birmingham often has that effect on me, too. Dissapointed the Bull Ring Centre and Spaghetti Junction didn't get a mention in the song though, tssk.Oh and i wonder what Claudia made of the new New Street Station? (i saw Cliff Richard there once, on the escalator, true story that). I found it extremely disorientating at first, took a while to get used to but then i am an old bastard afterall.The Oasis indoor market on Corporation Street is still going strong and has been since i first visited it back in the 80s.Best place for parking in Birmingham City centre is Snow Hill multistorey, leave the M6 at Junction 6 and get on the A38.It's a fairly simple route then into the city centre ( though they introduced a congestion charge in summer 2021 but my car is exempt and yours may be too, look it up on the Government website), follow the signs for Snow Hill station and car park. And finally, anyway, as the old saying goes, the man who is tired of Birmingham is tired of life.

Hey i'm selling Birmingham even better than Telly Savalas did! Yes, its my kinda town, so long, Birmingham!



Yes i read Woflgang's book I Was A Robot.Some years ago now, probs around when it was published (early to mid 2000s?) .Recall it was a really good read and some interesting stories about the inner world of Kraftwerk back in the day.

Edited by user 05 February 2022 06:57:24(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Wolfgang Flur was on Radcliffe & Maconie's 6Music show yesterday morning 26th March.They played the Birmingham track and talked with Wolfgang.Hadn't picked up on it when i listened to the song a few weeks back but Wolfgang mentions "Brummies" a few times in the track.Just wonderful!

I've heard Wolfgang on Radcliffe & Maconie's show before, a few years back and again yesterday he was on great form.He really is the most utterly, utterly charming and lovely man.Really enthusiastic, intelligent and humorous.An absolute gem of a guy.A total life affirming dude in these dark times.What a guy.

Go to 1 hour 22 mins in here to listen

Edited by user 27 March 2022 09:58:02(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified