Richard H. Kirk on Trans-Europe Express

I'd been listening to Kraftwerk ever since Autobahn came out, discovering a lot of what they used to call the Krautrock bands. Their early stuff was probably more of an influence on Cabaret Voltaire than when they became fully automated, because prior to that they'd been using guitars and organs. Trans-Europe Express was the first one where they became what they are now. I saw Kraftwerk play either that year or the year before, where they were actually playing tracks from Trans-Europe Express before it had been released. It was the first time I'd seen people dancing to electronic music. You'd go to something like that or Tangerine Dream and generally people would be sat on the floor, like a bit of a throwback from the 60s. Suddenly it all became more focussed and dance-friendly. Kraftwerk tore up the rulebook. What was going on with German music was basically: 'Forget about America. This is Germany.' I've met Ralf a couple of times and they're playing in Sheffield at the City Hall so chances are that if I'm around I'll be going.