Did Kraftwerk kill Rock 'n Roll?

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 09-29-2026, 04:52 PM

My answer is an emphatic 'yes.'

This is something I've been thinking about for quite a while.

To be clear, obviously they did not kill it right away, but also clearly, they set in motion a sequence of events in which Rock, which was guitar-based and typically had a rich texture of colors, patterns and emotions, was replaced by Techno-Pop, which was much more repetitive, simple, less emotive and was keyboard/synth-based.

We're still living with that today. Techno-pop dominates charts these days, and it all started with Kraftwerk.

1977:

1983:

2026:

For the record I love Kraftwerk, but it's clear they started something which is still in full force nowadays.

Ira.Blacker · 09-30-2026, 11:45 AM

As the manager of Kraftwerk, I am able to add some direct insight here. Long before Autobahn hit, there were many German groups, such as Neu, Harmonia, Can, Faust and Tangerine Dream. Their sound was first copied by Georgio Moroder with Donna Summer. What Kraftwerk did do, was to lead to the Rave music crap and I will admit, one of the early pushers of that **** was my best friends son, DJ Destructo.
Kraftwerk had a dream one day of the instruments playing themselves, LOL. They came mighty close. Today DJ Destructo and others of that ilk, use pre recorded tracks and dance and wave their hands as if they were actually DJing and mixing live. Another joke.
But fear not, music over the decades goes through changes: Race Music, to Rock, To hard rock, to metal, to death metal, punk etc. Rock is very much alive and if you especially look at the tours this vouches for it. Play that record occassionally by Danny and The Juniors, Rock and Roll Will Never Die. It will give hope. :-) Keep rockin my friend. Ps. I also managed Rush.

Drjohnrock · 09-30-2026, 01:01 PM

Kraftwerk wasn't the only band experimenting with electronic sounds. Many American artists incorporated electronic sounds back in the day, most notably the Moog synthesizer, back in the late 60s and onward. So I don't thnk Kraftwerk can be singled out as being solely responsible for techno or synth pop. But I agree with Mr. Blacker that rock isn't dead by any means.

jadis · 09-30-2026, 01:02 PM

Honored to have you with us, Mr Blacker.

I do wonder, though, whether rock can be said to be alive today... I don't follow new music closely (or rather at all) but I can't remember what was the last rock album I was actually excited by. Maybe Travels with Myself and Another by Future of the Left from 2009... Maybe you could recommend something more recent?

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 09-30-2026, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ira.Blacker

As the manager of Kraftwerk, I am able to add some direct insight here. Long before Autobahn hit, there were many German groups, such as Neu, Harmonia, Can, Faust and Tangerine Dream. Their sound was first copied by Georgio Moroder with Donna Summer. What Kraftwerk did do, was to lead to the Rave music crap and I will admit, one of the early pushers of that **** was my best friends son, DJ Destructo.
Kraftwerk had a dream one day of the instruments playing themselves, LOL. They came mighty close. Today DJ Destructo and others of that ilk, use pre recorded tracks and dance and wave their hands as if they were actually DJing and mixing live. Another joke.
But fear not, music over the decades goes through changes: Race Music, to Rock, To hard rock, to metal, to death metal, punk etc. Rock is very much alive and if you especially look at the tours this vouches for it. Play that record occassionally by Danny and The Juniors, Rock and Roll Will Never Die. It will give hope. :-) Keep rockin my friend. Ps. I also managed Rush.

Great to have you here!

Yes, of course there were other bands experimenting with electronica before Kraftwerk. But it seems Kraftwerk really popularized the very repetitive scheme with simple 4:4 beats. I suppose maybe they got some cues from disco, and mixed it with the electronica they had already been experimenting with for a few years.

This is electronica, but it's very freeform, not repetitive.

This, on the other hand, is what I'm talking about. It's what really took off and has dominated popular music since:

Mind-D · Yesterday, 09:10 PM

never heard of them

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · Today, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mind-D

never heard of them

Neither did I until about 20 years ago.

But they're widely considered the 2nd - or sometimes even first - most influential bands of all time:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...onic-band-tate
https://www.psaudio.com/blogs/copper...e-of-kraftwerk

09-29-2026, 04:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,215	Did Kraftwerk kill Rock 'n Roll? My answer is an emphatic 'yes.' This is something I've been thinking about for quite a while. To be clear, obviously they did not kill it right away, but also clearly, they set in motion a sequence of events in which Rock, which was guitar-based and typically had a rich texture of colors, patterns and emotions, was replaced by Techno-Pop, which was much more repetitive, simple, less emotive and was keyboard/synth-based. We're still living with that today. Techno-pop dominates charts these days, and it all started with Kraftwerk. 1977: 1983: 2026: For the record I love Kraftwerk, but it's clear they started something which is still in full force nowadays. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

09-30-2026, 01:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
jadis Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: dont ask Posts: 2,225	Honored to have you with us, Mr Blacker. I do wonder, though, whether rock can be said to be alive today... I don't follow new music closely (or rather at all) but I can't remember what was the last rock album I was actually excited by. Maybe Travels with Myself and Another by Future of the Left from 2009... Maybe you could recommend something more recent? __________________ Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.

09-30-2026, 11:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ira.Blacker Groupie Join Date: Sep 2026 Location: Florida Posts: 2	As the manager of Kraftwerk, I am able to add some direct insight here. Long before Autobahn hit, there were many German groups, such as Neu, Harmonia, Can, Faust and Tangerine Dream. Their sound was first copied by Georgio Moroder with Donna Summer. What Kraftwerk did do, was to lead to the Rave music crap and I will admit, one of the early pushers of that **** was my best friends son, DJ Destructo. Kraftwerk had a dream one day of the instruments playing themselves, LOL. They came mighty close. Today DJ Destructo and others of that ilk, use pre recorded tracks and dance and wave their hands as if they were actually DJing and mixing live. Another joke. But fear not, music over the decades goes through changes: Race Music, to Rock, To hard rock, to metal, to death metal, punk etc. Rock is very much alive and if you especially look at the tours this vouches for it. Play that record occassionally by Danny and The Juniors, Rock and Roll Will Never Die. It will give hope. :-) Keep rockin my friend. Ps. I also managed Rush.

09-30-2026, 01:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Drjohnrock Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,044	Kraftwerk wasn't the only band experimenting with electronic sounds. Many American artists incorporated electronic sounds back in the day, most notably the Moog synthesizer, back in the late 60s and onward. So I don't thnk Kraftwerk can be singled out as being solely responsible for techno or synth pop. But I agree with Mr. Blacker that rock isn't dead by any means.

Yesterday, 09:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mind-D Groupie Join Date: Oct 2026 Posts: 18	never heard of them