Online tributes have been posted around the globe for Florian Schneider, who co-founded the influential German band Kraftwerk with Ralf Hütter. He died Wednesday from cancer at the age of 73.

Kraftwerk issued its debut album in 1971 and after several lineup shifts, released a string if influential electronic albums such as Ralf und Florian, Autobahn and Trans-Europe Express in the mid-1970s.

Schneider, a flutist who also played violin, guitar and synthesizers, was key to the band’s forward-looking approach to technology and creating new sounds via electronic drums and their synth-vocal processor Robovox. Schneider appeared on 10 Kraftwerk albums, leaving the band in 2008 prior to a reunion tour.

Parlophone Records Co-Presidents Nick Burgess and Mark Mitchell said in a statement, “Florian Schneider was a pioneering figure in the history of modern music. It is no exaggeration to say that countless artists would not sound the way they do today if not for Florian’s revolutionary compositions and innovative musicianship. The band’s experimental courage and enormous influence crossed a myriad of genres, from electronic to dance to hip-hop.

“Consummate multi-media artists, Kraftwerk not only broke new musical ground, but created a unique and inspiring visual universe, from their album covers to their state-of-the-art stage productions. All of us at Parlophone and Warner Music Group are honored to be stewards of Kraftwerk’s incredible body of work, and we send our deepest condolences to Florian’s family, friends, and countless fans across the globe. He will be deeply missed.”

Way ahead of his time. 🙏https://t.co/sbfeVEpSeZ

— midge ure (@midgeure1) May 6, 2020

Another of my great heroes gone https://t.co/3ElmWlRKZR

— Thomas Dolby (@ThomasDolby) May 6, 2020

To say he was massively influential and changed the very sound of music, is somehow still a understatement. RIP, Florian Schneider, founder member of Kraftwerk. https://t.co/YAeV9VMlER

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) May 6, 2020

We are absolutely devastated to learn that one of our heroes Florian Schneider has passed away. pic.twitter.com/Y2dnYfxkj8

— Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (@OfficialOMD) May 6, 2020

The Future, The Human League, B.E.F. and Heaven 17 would never have existed without Florian Schneider and Kraftwerk

— martyn ware (@martynware) May 6, 2020

We are absolutely gutted to hear about the passing of @kraftwerk Co-founder, Florian Schneider, due to cancer. He was 73 years old. Florian, while being a part of Kraftwerk, helped shape electronic music & its influence on many genres from synthpop to rock. pic.twitter.com/tSrmnOgMQl

— KORG USA (@KorgUSA) May 6, 2020

The mighty Florian Schneider has left this earth. 2020 is really just the worst thus far. #Kraftwerk

— Garbage (@garbage) May 6, 2020

Damn. Without Kraftwerk there would be no Art Lord and the Self-Portraits, thus no Future Islands.
Kraftwerk was the crux of our musical friendship and beginnings. We wanted to be just like them. And so we were. RIP Florian, a true Lord of Art. https://t.co/zmPROZlIQJ

— Future Islands (@futureislands) May 6, 2020

Nick on the passing of @kraftwerk’s Florian Schneider https://t.co/IdU2f5gdwh pic.twitter.com/zktzC4Gj55

— Duran Duran (@duranduran) May 6, 2020

Florian Schneider will forever be an inspiration to the world of electronic music. His artistry has been influential to creatives for the last 50 years. Today, we thank and honor him for helping to guide and shape our community through sound, imagination, and innovation. pic.twitter.com/wrq4nB4icz

— Moog Synthesizers (@moogmusicinc) May 6, 2020