Kraftwerk Co-founder Florian Schneider Passes Away

Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider has passed away at the age of 73 from cancer. 

As The Guardian reports, Sony Berlin confirmed the news while the revered German songwriter is understood to have passed a week ago. 

Formed in 1970 alongside Ralf Hütter, Kraftwerk, who are considered one of the key influencers of electronic music, released ten studio albums including their 1970 debut self-titled record and their final effort, 2003's Tour de France Soundtracks.

The Düsseldorf-formed group also produced a number of hit tracks over the years, including Autobahn, Trans-Europe Express; The Model and Pocket Calculator.

Kraftwerk's performance at Australia's Big Day Out festival in 2003 was one of the most talked-about sets that year, even on a line-up that boasted the likes of Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age and Jane's Addiction, given that it was the first chance for a new generation electro music fans to witness the undisputed pioneers of the genre in action.

Schneider officially left Kraftwerk in 2008.

In an opinion piece published late last year, The Music contributor Cyclone noted the significance that Kraftwerk had on music in the '70s. 

"Kraftwerk busted out of Düsseldorf in the '70s as avant-garde musicians, being designated 'krautrock' by UK media-types (they're now referred to as 'kosmische').

"The enigmatic group intrigued David Bowie, who'd settle in West Berlin, cutting his so-called Berlin Trilogy with Brian Eno."