10 Musicians Who Died In 2020

As a founding member of pioneering electronic act Kraftwerk, Florian Schnieder can accurately lay claim to the title of a genuine musical innovator, and one of the most influential pop figures of the 20th century.

Kraftwerk formed in Dusseldorf in 1970, and through their stripped back, eminently danceable (and sampleable) music and introverted personalities, reimagined what a pop star looked and sounded like. They shied away from the personal spotlight, instead transmitting their music through layers of world and character building.

Schnieder remained with the band until 2006, missing out on their lucrative and well received world tour. He is present, however, on each of their studio releases, and can therefore be credited with a great deal of the disco and hip hop scenes that would base many of their beats around his band’s unmistakable melodies and tones.

He died at age 73 after a brief battle with cancer, and will be remembered by musicians, writers, and producers of all genres as one of the few figures who can claim to have made a genuine major difference to culture in his lifetime.