Wolfgang Flur (Kratwerk) send generators to the Ukraine
Some people who don’t understand what drives many musicians often belch out statements like “music shouldn’t be political” or “this isn’t what I’m paying for” as if most artists were ever paid fairly for their work.
“Well, you just lost another fan!” is usually the couplet, as if anyone cares.
What a shock, Bruce Springsteen is political?
Who could have possibly known this after reading a half century’s worth of his lyrics?
I often write about how bands like R.E.M. set me on a course when I was 12 or 13. This was when they were still a relatively small band. For some of us, particularly in the southern United States, they were our generation’s Velvet Underground. They made a lot of us want to pick up guitars, feel untethered by unofficial rules, and to speak about things we thought could be better. We grew older with them, and they always kept it classy until the end.
Before them, though, Kraftwerk melted my little six year old brain. The music was cool, groundbreaking, and artistic, sure, but when you are a kid, it’s really just about robots, car trips, and “fun fun fun” [sic].
When Computer World came out, 13 year old me discovered it was a social bridge between weirdos like me and the Black kids in my school, who would breakdance to it. Later I would discover that it inspired three Black kids in Detroit to invent techno, which is arguably the international musical language. Songs inspired by this album soundtracked the fall of the Berlin Wall.
But music shouldn’t be political, right?
The Tour de France Soundtracks record is my favorite record to drive to. Along the way I picked up on the band’s occasional political themes, wrapped in simple lyrics. Their albums remain in heavy rotation in our home.
The Ralf, Florian, Wolfgang, and Karl lineup will always be the band to me, though I was too young to see that iteration live. The first time I saw Kraftwerk in concert was 2005, with my dear synth buddy, the incomparable builder, restorer, and circuit champion, Mike Walters. Even minus Wolfgang and Karl, it was incredible. It was a bucket list show for both of us.
I keep up with those two ex-members. Both Karl and Wolfgang have released music that is well worth your time. Wolfgang’s biography, I Was A Robot, answers a lot of questions, and his appearance on Martyn Ware’s Electronically Yours showed this mensch-maschine to be very human.
Humanity is in short supply these days. As we see ICE agents murder people in the streets, followed up by the government immediately gaslighting the victim, unspeakable horrors in Gaza, countless other acts of cruelty around the world, and Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine, it’s easy to just become overwhelmed and just give up.
In fact, that’s what the fascists are hoping you’ll do, related to Steve Bannon’s strategy of “flooding the zone with shit” until we’re confused, beaten down, helpless, and hopeless.
It’s hard to know where to start if one wants to help. The answer is “anywhere you want, with any act you choose.”
Today I came across yet another post showing Wolfgang Flür quietly going about the business of doing what he can to help the people of Ukraine stay warm, as they endure this never-ending siege, through yet another brutal winter.
While I respect anonymous charity, I think being semi-public about it encourages others to help as well. Furthermore, it reminds us that these tragedies are far from over, even if the news cycle about them has cooled down, as Trump continues to hog 90% of the airtime.
Artists are in a unique position to draw attention to things. Even though one of my music projects, Themes For Great Cities, rarely performs, we were able to sell a special edition of our vinyl for $2200, all of which went to medical and food aid in Ukraine. While it’s true that this kind of money is just a drop in the bucket, it might buy a handful of people another day, possibly the crucial one that will ultimately allow them to survive the war.
I challenge anyone who can use their voice to help. I’m not asking you to be Bono or Sir Bob, just to help keep the message alive. A small puff of air may barely tickle the hairs on your neck, but aggregated, it can keep the parachute aloft.
As individuals, it’s remarkable how far organizations like World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders can stretch a few quid.
Seeing small acts of philanthropy from our heros makes us feel like we “chose” the right bands to admire.
Here’s hoping their generosity can inspire us as well.
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