One of the most influential German bands in pop history, Kraftwerk is not known for its extensive touring. But, the revived outfit announced four U.S. dates, including one at the Eagles Ballroom on Sunday, April 20.
Over 35 years, the German electro quartet has blazed trails in electronic music, inspiring not only artsy experimentalists, but also hip-hoppers, post-punk bands, Chicago and Detroit house music producers and others.
These gigs are the first for the group since 2005 when it hit the road to support its first live disc, "Minimum-Maximum" on Astralwerks Records.
The other dates are in Minneapolis, Denver and at Coachella Music Festival. Tickets are $35 and go on sale Saturday, March 15 at 10 a.m.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
