Further images
A rare silkscreen concert poster for one of the first UK performances by German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk at Johnson Hall in Yeovil, England, on Thursday 18th September 1975, with support from Somerset folk singer A.J. Webber. Formed as a duo in Düsseldorf in 1969 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider, Kraftwerk had expanded to what is now regarded to be their classic quartet line-up by 1975, with the addition of Wolfgang Flür and Karl Bartos. Following the breakthrough international success of their fourth studio album Autobahn and its hypnotic 22-minute title track, the foursome embarked on their first international tour to Canada and the US, before ending the tour in the UK from 5th - 20th September. Appearing on stage in matching suits like four investment bankers at futuristic computer terminals, the band's stylised image and experimental "robot pop" music was met with a somewhat disinterested response from British audiences, with Melody Maker criticising their "spineless, emotionless sound" and railing "keep the robots out of music." Bartos noted poor ticket sales for the British shows, recalling that the group played in mostly empty halls in Newcastle, London, Bournemouth, Bath, Cardiff, Birmingham, and Liverpool. Fast forward four decades and Kraftwerk are widely regarded as one of the most influential bands of all time, named by NME as one of the two most important bands in music history, alongside The Beatles. Their electronic music innovations inspired countless artists from David Bowie to Daft Punk and continue to reverberate through genres as diverse as hip-hop, synth-pop, post-punk, techno, house and electro. Silkscreen printed in black on a matte neon yellow paperstock and conservation backed on paper.
Condition
Very good (B+)
Unfolded, conservation backed on paper. Backing has smoothed a 19in. diagonal crease across lower right and closed three edge tears, the largest 1in. extending into the print. Further minor nicks, chips and creases to edges and corners. A handful of surface scuffs and dings and a few light creases throughout. Faint tape shadow to lower corner from historic tape verso. Slight soiling to edges. Colour excellent.