Throwback: Happy 80th Birthday, Ralf Hütter!

It’s August. We’ve somehow managed to survive 3/4s of a what has been a miserable, soul-wrenching slog of a year, full of gratuitous brutality, endless war, and a slow-burning slide into fascism. Oh and add economic difficulties. But, we’re still here. And we will face whatever it is we’re meant to face, right?

Music, art and community matter more than ever. Let’s not forget that fact. As always, I will spend some time celebrating the birthday of a series of favorites and legends while we still have them.

• MTV was launched 45 years ago on August 1
• Coolio was born 63 years ago on August 1
• Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott celebrated his 67h on August 1
• Public Enemy‘s Chuck D. celebrated his 66th birthday on August 1
• Butch Vig celebrated his 71st birthday on August 2
• Echo and the Bunnymen‘s first dummer Pete de Freitas was born 65 years ago on August 2
• Collective Soul‘s frontman Ed Roland celebrated his 63rd on August 3
• Metallica‘s James Hetfield celebrated his 63rd birthday on August 3
• The iconic Louis Armstrong was born 125 years ago on August 4
• Pat Smear celebrated his 65th birthday on August 5
• Beastie Boys‘ MCA, a.k.a. Adan Yauch was born 61 years ago on August 5
• U2′s The Edge celebrated his 65th birthday on August 8 
• The pioneering Kurtis Blow celebrated his 67th birthday on August 9
• Legendary composer and multi-instrumentalist Jack DeJohnette was born84 years ago on August 9
• The incomparable, ebullient and legendary Whitney Houston was born 63 years ago on August 9
• Interpol’s Sam Fogarino celebrated his 58th birthday on August 9
• New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe co-founder Michael Bivins celebrated his 58th birthday on August 10
• INXS co-founder and drummer Jon Farriss celebrated his 65th birthday on August 10
• Ronnie Spector was born 83 years ago on August 10
• Hip-hop was born at a house party at 1520 Sedgewick Avenue DJ’ed by the pioneering Kool Herc 53 years ago on August 11
• Sir Mix A Lot celebrated his 63rd birthday on August 12
• Del The Funky Homosapien celebrates his 54th birthday on August 12
• Dire Straits‘ Mark Knopfler celebrated his 77h birthday on August 12
• The complicated but legendary David Crosby was born 85 years ago today on August 14
• Oscar Peterson, one of the greatest pianists ever was born 101 years ago on August 15
• INXS co-founder and guitarist Tim Farriss celebrated his 69th birthday on August 16
• The legendary and iconic Madonna celebrates her 68th birthday on August 16
• Belinda Carlisle, the frontwoman of The Go-Gos and an acclaimed solo artist in her own right celebrated her 67th birthday on August 17
• Acclaimed JOVM mainstay Genesis Owusu celebrated his 28th birthday on August 17
• De La Soul’s Kelvin Mercer, A.K.A. Posdnous, a.k.a. Plug One celebrated his 57h birthday on August 17
• The Isley Brothers‘ Marvin Isley was born 73 years ago on August 19
• Nate Dogg, the undisputed king of hip-hop hooks was born 57 years ago on August 19
• Fat Joe celebrated his 56th birthday on August 19
• The legendary and complicated Ginger Baker was born 87 years ago on August 19
• Thin Lizzy frontman and overall pioneer, Phil Lynott was born 77 years ago today

I’m an obsessive Kraftwerk fan — and have been for many years. The German outfit has long been known as pioneering electronic music, creating the sound of the future over 50 years ago. Since they adopted the synthesizer as a melodic instrument and sound processor back in 1974 — yes, 1974! — the sounds and music we listen to today wouldn’t be possible. I’ve seen an argument that suggests that Kraftwerk may be more influential than The Beatles — and you know what, that doesn’t sound crazy at all.  

Now, if you know me well, it shouldn’t be surprising that I’ve played Kraftwerk while in Germany, The Netherlands and even in Montréal. Listening to them brings back very fond memories of riding the S-bahn 3 into Frankfurt’s Haupwatche section; of riding the Dutch railways back and forth between Dordrecht and Amsterdam; and of riding Montréal’s Métro. 

Kraftwerk’s co-founder and last remaining constant member Ralf Hütter celebrates his 80th birthday today. Happy birthday, Ralf!

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