Clubbing Magazine


Karl Bartos is an ex-member of the legendary German electronic music group Kraftwerk who has been hailed as one of the most important founders of electronic music. Bands like Africa Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force, Depeche Mode, OMD, Human League and also the club scene today never seize to stress the importance of Kraftwerk’s influence on their creative work. Even the Australian diva Kylie Minogue has announced her love to Kraftwerk’s music. From the very beginning of Kraftwerk, Karl Bartos has been a very important member of the group and his contribution to the group’s success is second to none. Classic titles as "The Robots", "The Model", "Tour de France" and "Pocket Calculator" give you an idea of Karl Bartos’ influence on the shaping of the worldwide success with German techno pop that Kraftwerk is famous for. From 1975 to 1991, Kraftwerk released Autobahn, Radioactivity, Trans Europe Express, The Man Machine, Computer World, Electric Café and The Mix – all albums in their own right and highly critically acclaimed. In 1991, Karl Bartos decided to leave Kraftwerk to pursue his own projects: working with OMD, Electronic (Bernard Sumner/Johnny Marr), The Mobile Homes, Anthony Rother and Deine Lakaien. In 1992, he founded his solo project Electric Music, and in 1993 he released his debut solo album “Esperanto” which was followed by “Electric Music” in 1998. Another five years should pass before his latest album “Communication” was released, this time under his own name.
Do you think it is a good thing that people connect you with Kraftwerk? Or would you rather just be Karl Bartos? - It really doesn’t matter what I think, because I can’t change peoples minds, they will always see me as a part of both, sometimes it’s really nice if people approach me because they liked Kraftwerk, it gives me more publicity. Other times it is a pain in the ass. I always have to give my autograph on Kraftwerk albums instead of my latest one. But I can’t change my biography and with the one comes the other. It is like Inspector Colombo on TV, he says it is not my opinion - I just do the investigation.
	How about on stage? - On stage I play some Kraftwerk classics for sure. It is almost equal Karl Bartos / Kraftwerk songs. As long as people like it I will do that. I play the ones I have written, like “The model”. I think it’s a natural correlation as it is my background. Paul McCartney also plays old Beatles tracks at his concerts. But I try to play more of my own stuff now as I am still promoting my last record “Communications”.
	Can you tell me about the ideas you had with “Communications”? - I am really into the theory of communications, and I am asking myself to what extent the meaning of electronic communication is able to change our culture. The media is very responsible for our world view, there are no cultures without language and if you introduce a new order like for example the alphabet, the structure and the way we think in the society will change and if you introduce another media like the electronic ones; TV, computer and so on. The way we think will change again. Our culture is changing from words and alphabet centered culture on to a pictured centered culture. Pictures can show the world but not describe it, and then our culture and music will change. I’m asking myself if music is a byproduct of the electronic media and if pictures are more important than the music. The main theme is to show the implications of media and the impositions of media. To show how the electronic media will be able to change the content of our culture. On TV it is entertainment that works best, but unfortunately any other subject matter in this world turns into entertainment, like sports, politics, war and religion. And this is exactly where I am trying to say if the electronic media will change our culture. And it has already changed it. Now every thing is entertainment.
You are one of the older musicians in electronic music today. What do you think about being the grand father of electronic music? - The advantage of growing older is that you discover that you have a lifespan. It’s really a span and you see you are going to die if you like it or not. When you approach 30 and 40 you start to discover; wow is it only that? Life is not the ocean, it is not unlimited and one day you discover that someday you are going to die, and there is nothing you can do about it. What I mean is; it is not worth thinking about age, the only thing that is important is to take care of your body. It is the only thing you can control. At the same time it is fun getting old.
When you speak about taking care of your body and health, what is you opinion on the drug problem connected to electronic music? - I think it is a BIG mistake and nobody should take them, ever. They are not necessary. I grew up in the sixties, so I took drugs, but I discovered that it has all changed. The drug culture was really something else then.
Interview: Mikael Palner