On last week’s show the Berlin period of David Bowie’s career emerged as a talking point. Within that we became aware of a man named Conny Plank, a German record producer. This evening Tom spoke with David Stubbs about Plank.

Stubbs is a music journalist who has written a new book entitled ‘Future Days - Krautrock and the Building of Modern Germany’.

Plank is of particular interest due to his connection - or lack of - with Ireland. In the mid 1980s U2 were very keen for Plank to produce the ‘Joshua Tree’. However, Plank wasn’t keen. “I cannot work with that singer,” he is believed to have said in relation to Bono.

Plank is somewhat of a giant in the post war German music scene as he is credited with having an enduring influence on the development of Krautrock, particularly with his innovative use of sound and recording techniques. He produced countless artists during his career, not least Kraftwerk...