Kraftwerk

FEW BANDS in pop history are quite as mysterious, elusive and maddeningly eccentric as Kraftwerk. But few remain as enduringly influential either. In 2005, even after two decades of minimal activity, the grey-templed godfathers of techno pop have had their songs covered by Coldplay and U2, arguably the biggest rock acts on the planet. Meanwhile, everyone from Franz Ferdinand to Kylie cites Kraftwerk as an inspiration.