Kling Klang

Just a small post tonight to launch a new obsession- famous and little known recluses. A perfect fit for a history blog as all current recluses may be hard to find. My starting off point isn't a person but a group of people, and if the title didn't give it away, it's Kraftwerk.

Hailing from Dusseldorf, the electro / industrial / techno band was formed in 1970. Founding members Florian Schneider-Esleben and Ralf Hutter played together as a duo during school at the Düsseldorf Conservatory and brought their original uniquely German sound to the world's stage. Highly electronic sounding and sparse compositions featuring early synthesizers,computers and crude electronic gadgetry were the mainstays of their repertoire.

They built a studio called Kling Klang and began to record and experiment more and more. It was then ironically, in the mid 70's, when they began to be known that their reclusive behaviour started to emerge. Few people had their phone numbers, including staff at their record label. They never answered the phone and created convoluted schemes to relay messages. Their studio has no staff, mail is left unopened and are rarely photographed, except during live performances.

Despite infrequent live shows, and long spells between hits, Kraftwerk has released over a dozen albums and nearly 30 singles. Have fun with their website . . . http://www.kraftwerk.com/