German electronic band Kraftwerk’s origins stretch back to 1970 when Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider joined in Düsseldorf, Germany, to form something more akin to an art collective than a traditional musical act. The band wasn’t merely defined by the music they composed, but represented an entire innovative aesthetic, one merging an austere visual modernity that had many asking, “Are they even real?”
Later joined by musician and artist Emil Schult, Kraftwerk’s identity would continue to be shrouded in a cloud of mystery, but also eventually solidify into a signature visual language synonymous with the cold, simulated celebration of the future of German infrastructure, robotics, futurism, and the digital age.
Fast forward to 2024 and the godfathers of electronic music have found a collaborator and booster in skateboard brand, Beautiful Losers. The Kraftwerk x Beautiful Losers skateboard collection is a tribute represented by a limited edition series of nine skateboard decks, each celebrating a different era of the band’s influential work from 1974 to 2017. Featuring graphics from Kraftwerk’s iconic albums, such as “Autobahn,” “Trans-Europe Express,” and “The Man-Machine,” the nine decks feature Kraftwerk’s signature avant-garde modernist and Bauhaus-inspired aesthetic and are stamped with the year connected with each album.
This collaboration coincides with Kraftwerk’s nine-night residency at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, where the brand will perform each of their studio albums in sequence. This unique event and the skateboard collection together celebrate the band’s enduring legacy and their impact on both music and visual art.
Skateboards as wall art have been a thing amongst skaters and non-skaters alike for awhile now, and these decks hand-dipped in lacquer are most certainly intended for display rather than taking out onto asphalt. Given the limited nature of this collection, these skateboards sold out immediately, thanks to its connection to Kraftwerk and also its association with the influential skate brand.
To see more about the Kraftwerk x Beautiful Losers skateboard collaboration, visit beautifullosers.love.
