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As a trailblazer of electronic music and his ensemble Kraftwerk revolutionized popular music while inspiring musicians from David Bowie and New Order to Coldplay and Run-DMC.

Currently, the electronic equipment and performance items employed by Schneider in crafting some of the band’s best-known songs throughout two decades may bring in substantial bids as they go under the hammer in a November auction.

Rare Glimpse of Late Individual Composition

Recordings from an independent endeavor that Schneider was working on prior to his passing after a cancer diagnosis at 73 years old in 2020 is being shared for the first time in a video promoting the sale.

Extensive Collection of His Items

Alongside the compact synthesizer, his wind instrument and his vocoders – which he used creating mechanical-sounding vocals – enthusiasts will get a chance to purchase around five hundred items from his estate in the sale.

This encompasses his collection over a hundred wind and brass items, many instant photos, eyewear, the passport used on tour until 1978 and Volkswagen vehicle, given a gray finish.

His Panasonic Panaracer bicycle, used by him in Kraftwerk’s Tour de France music video and shown on the cover art, will be auctioned later this month.

Bidding Particulars

The total estimated value of the sale ranges from $450,000 to $650,000.

The group was revolutionary – they were one of the first bands that used synthesisers and they created music entirely new to listeners.

Other bands considered their music “mind-blowing”. It revealed an innovative direction within sound that Kraftwerk created. It encouraged a lot of bands to shift towards electronic synth sounds.

Notable Pieces

• A vocoder that is likely employed by the band in productions from the late '70s plus later releases may go for $30K–$50K.
• The portable EMS model thought to be the one used on Kraftwerk’s 1974 album the famous record has an estimate of a mid-range sum.
• The alto flute, an Orsi G alto featured in performances during live acts until 1974, carries an estimate of $8K–$10K.

Quirky and Personal Items

For smaller budgets, an assortment of about 90 Polaroid photographs he captured showing his musical tools is on sale for $100 to $200.

Additional unique items, such as a see-through, colorful bass and a “very unique” insect replica, displayed in his workspace, have estimates of $200–$400.

The musician's eyewear with green lenses plus snapshots of him wearing them could sell for $300–$500.

Estate’s Statement

He always believed that gear deserves activity and enjoyed by others – not sitting idle or collecting dust. He hoped his tools to be passed to people that will cherish them: artists, gatherers and admirers by audio creativity.

Lasting Influence

Recalling the band's impact, one noted musician commented: Initially, we loved Kraftwerk. Autobahn was an album that made us all sit up and say: what’s this?. They produced something different … something completely new – they were consciously rejecting earlier approaches.”