Before the Robots

The great pleasure in the clip above is not necessarily the music, but rather the bewildered faces of the German kids in the audience. Take a close look—most seem deeply unsure of how to react, yet still fully aware that they're bearing witness to an early flicker of greatness. I wish I could dig something up regarding Kraftwerk's view on blowing so many young Teutonic minds, but they're pretty much the opposite of loquacious. Seriously, you ever read aninterview with a member of Kraftwerk? Those man-machines are only slightly less reticent than J.D. Salinger.