Kraftwerk have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
Pharrell, Depeche Mode, and LCD Soundsystem honoured the electronic pioneers
Kraftwerk received a Music Excellence Award this weekend after they were inducted at the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony.
Honoured by Pharrell Williams, Depeche Mode's Martin Gore, Run-DMC’s Darryl McDaniels, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, and the Human League’s Philip Oakey, the German four-piece received the award alongside LL Cool J, Billy Preston, and Randy Rhoads.
The induction was announced in May this year after the band were nominated six times for the award, and were denied on every occasion.
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“Welcome Kraftwerk to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame,” said Pharrell in a pre-recorded video screened at the induction ceremony. “It was truly a seismic moment for music as we know it. We should all be grateful for Kraftwerk, it’s why this recognition is so important.
“The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a very special place. But I’m going to suggest that we create a new hall within the hall, reserved for artists who actually invented their genre because Kraftwerk belongs there,” he continued.
Pharell also relayed his personal relationship with the electronic band, in which he met Kraftwerk co-founder Florian Schneider before he passed away in May last year.
“For many of us, we were influenced by Kraftwerk without even realising. I’m so lucky I got to meet the late Florian Schneider and let him know how much his music meant to all of us,” he said.
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The German electro band were also recognised by LCD Soundsystem, who made several Kraftwerk references in their second album, ‘Sound Of Silver’, and have previously sampled the band.
Also sharing their love for the group was Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore, who’s previously spoken of Kraftwerk’s influence on the 80s band, and informed his music taste growing up.
The electronic pioneers have now been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Watch a video of Pharrell honouring the group below.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter