Biography

“The Model”, ”The Robots”, “Neon Lights” “Computer Love” “Numbers” “Tour de France” or “Musique Non Stop”: only some of the Kraftwerk classics co-written by Karl Bartos. It was after the classical trained musician joined the band in 1974 for the Autobahn US tour (1975) that Düsseldorf’s finest developed their unmistakeable sound, which went on to have a huge influence on Hip-Hop, Techno and Electropop. Kraftwerk’s consecutive albums Autobahn (1974) Radio-Activity (1975), Trans-Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), Computer World (1981) and Techno Pop (1986) are now classics with a global reach. After leaving Kraftwerk, Karl Bartos first formed the band Elektric Music releasing two albums, Esperanto (1993) and Electric Music (1998), collaborated with Bernard Sumner (New Order), Johnny Marr (The Smiths) for their Electronic project and Andy McCluskey (OMD) and released two well-regarded solo albums Communication 2003 (re-release 2016) and Off the Record 2013. Showing his versatility as a thinker and communicator, Bartos was also guest professor in Auditory Media Design at the University of the Arts Berlin from 2004 to 2009. His autobiography “Der Klang der Maschine“ (Eichborn) was published in German speaking countries in 2017. The edited English version “The Sound of the Machine – My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond” is announced for July 2022. In 2021 Karl Bartos was inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Kraftwerk’s classic line up.