Kraftwerk: I was a Robot (2nd ed.) by Wolfgang Flür

Kraftwerk: The inventors of electronic music and pioneers in their own right.

I Was a Robot is the honest autobiography of their drummer Wolfgang and his own account of his time in Kraftwerk, Yamo and his childhood. The book tells us everything we didn't know about this pioneering German band, from being the inventors of the drum machine to Ralf Hüttor and Florian Scheneider-Esleben threatening Flür with court action for mentioning certain insignificant actions in the first edition.

As we read through we are given the story of world tours and how they aren't as amazing as they sound to Wolfgang's departure and formation of his current project Yamo (formerly Jamo).

Having read a number of biographies, authorised and unauthorised, I knew that I was going to be reading stories of the band, certain events and how much the tour bus stank but I didn't think I was going to read about how Wolfgang "was masturbating to force some excitement from the grey day..." and that the founders of the band wanted the book taken off the market or edited due to some small events in his time with Kraftwerk.

Those who have lived will be well aware that the human race can be right pigs (and by 'pigs' I mean unmnetionable words) at times, however, they may not be aware at how pig-like some can be, especially by kicking members of the band out without even letting them know followed by claims that the kicked-outs were suppose to only be temporary members (an apparent lie) and had their names dropped from any albums that were re-released.

If you've been one to read an autobiography of any length, you may feel the need to claim that you know "everything about this person" after just reading about how they formed a band, played some live shows and released a groundbreaking album, even though you know this claim is false. However, when you've read this book you'll genuinely feel that you do really know Mr. Flür inside and out.

He is a man who has lived, experienced and tasted life as a musician dating right back to the early seventies when he began drumming in a German rock band (note: It wasn't the Scorpions or Rammstein).

This is a book which delves deep into the history of Kraftwerk and the beginnings of electronic music as we know it today albeit with many changes and variations and a definitive read for anyone interested in the electronic scene. This is a band which has inspired those who we listen to today: The Prodigy (quick fact: I went to the same school as Keith Flynt, something I'm rather proud to say), Chemical Bros, Faithless and Fatboy Slim. Pick it up if you can.

Definitely one of the best (and longest, I'll admit) books I've read in the past 6 months and one which I'll rate at a 5.