Florian Schneider of German electronic band Kraftwerk has died,Billboardconfirms. He was 73. Schneider formed the influential group and multimedia project with Ralf Hutter in 1970.
Kraftwerk — with its use of electronic instruments that included homemade and custom-built devices — has been widely credited withpioneering electronic music and influencing various genres across the musical spectrum, including hip-hop, synthpop and rock with their soundscapes, experimentation and technical innovations.
The late David Bowie also recognized Schneider's influence on his own art. On Bowie's 1977 albumHeroes, the iconic artist titled his mostly instrumental track "V-2 Schneider" after the musician.