Can were a German experimental rock band formed in Cologne in 1968 by Holger Czukay, Irmin Schmidt (keyboards), Michael Karoli (guitar), and Jaki Liebezeit (drums). They featured several vocalists, including the American Malcolm Mooney (1968–70) and the Japanese Damo Suzuki (1970–73). They have been hailed as pioneers of the German krautrock scene.
Can c. 1972 From left: Karoli, Schmidt, Czukay, Liebezeit, Suzuki
Performing in der Mushalle Hamburg in 1972.
Experimental rock, also called avant-rock, is a subgenre of rock music that pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique or which experiments with the basic elements of the genre. Artists aim to liberate and innovate, with some of the genre's distinguishing characteristics being improvisational performances, avant-garde influences, odd instrumentation, opaque lyrics, unorthodox structures and rhythms, and an underlying rejection of commercial aspirations.
The Beatles working in the studio with their producer George Martin, c. 1965
Frank Zappa with Captain Beefheart, seated left, during a 1975 concert
Sonic Youth perform in Sweden in 2005.