Nearly 500 personal possessions of Florian Schneider, the late co-founder of pioneering electronic band Kraftwerk, are to be auctioned in Nashville, Tennessee, on 19 November. The sale, held by Julien's Auctions at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, includes synthesizers, vocoders, flutes, and even the bicycle he rode in the band's Tour de France music video. The total estimated value ranges from $450,000 to $650,000 (£335,000 to £485,000).
Among the highlights is a vocoder likely used on the albums The Man Machine (1978) and Computer World (1981), estimated at $30,000 to $50,000. An EMS Synthi AKS suitcase synthesiser thought to be used on Autobahn (1974) is valued at $15,000 to $20,000. Schneider's Orsi G alto flute, which he played on stage with the synthesiser until 1974, is estimated at $8,000 to $10,000.
Other items include a collection of over 100 brass and woodwind instruments, Polaroid photographs, his sunglasses, a passport used until 1978, and a custom-painted VW panel van. A transparent yellow acrylic guitar and a 16-inch model of a fly mounted on his studio wall are priced at $200 to $400. The lowest-priced lot is a collection of about 90 Polaroid photos for $100 to $200.
Giles Moon, head of music at Julien's Auctions, described Kraftwerk as groundbreaking, saying they created music that was 'very unworldly' and moved music in a new direction. A spokesperson for Schneider's estate said the auction fulfills his wish for his instruments to 'continue living beyond him' and be played and shared by musicians and collectors.
Stephen Morris, drummer for Joy Division and New Order, reflected on Kraftwerk's influence, noting that Autobahn made them 'sit up and say: what's this?' and inspired New Order's approach of rejecting the past and starting anew.
