Kraftwerk Take Machine Music To The Tate

Kraftwerk are to perform their studio albums in full with a series of shows at London's Tate Modern next year.

The electronic music pioneers will be performing their first London gigs since 2004 when they play the eight concerts in February.

The German group, whose name translates as "power station", will be performing in the gallery's Turbine Hall, which once housed huge electric generators.

Kraftwerk were at the forefront of synthesiser pop and had a huge influence on dance music in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

They had chart hits with tracks such as Autobahn and had a UK number one single with The Model.

Coldplay later took the main riff from their 1981 track Computer Love for their single Talk.

Kraftwerk, who at one stage toyed with the idea of sending robots on tour, last played a rare UK gig in 2009 when the cycling-obsessed band members performed at the Velodrome in Manchester.

Their new shows - which go under the name Kraftwerk The Catalogue 12345678 Live - will also include high-tech 3D visuals.

They will perform their albums in chronological order from Autobahn onwards through releases such as Trans Europe Express, The Man Machine and finishing with their most recent collection, Tour De France Soundracks.

Earlier this year, Kraftwerk played a retrospective at the Museum Of Modern Art in New York.

Kraftwerk's current line-up is Ralf Hutter, Fritz Hilpert, Henning Schmitz and Stefan Pfaffe.

Florian Schneider left the band in November 2008, meaning Hutter is the only remaining founding member.

The Tate shows take place from February 6 to 14, and tickets go on sale from Wednesday, December 12.