Can
Formed in Cologne, Germany and originally known as Inner Space, this experimental unit was founded by two students of modern classical music, Irmin Schmidt (b. 29 May 1937, Berlin, Germany; keyboards) and Holger Czukay (b. 24 March 1938, Danzig, Germany; bass). The group embraced a rock-based perspective with the addition of Michael Karoli (b. 29 April 1948, Straubing, Lower Bavaria, Germany; guitar), Jaki Liebezeit (b. 26 May 1938, Dresden, Germany; drums) and the inclusion in this early line-up of David Johnson (flute). 
The arrival of black American vocalist Malcolm Mooney coincided with the adoption of a new name, Can. Johnson left the group in December 1968 as the unit began work on their official debut album. MONSTER MOVIE introduced many of Can's subsequent trademarks: Schmidt's choppy, percussive keyboard style, Karoli's incisive guitar and the relentless, hypnotic pulse of its rhythm section. At times reminiscent of a Teutonic Velvet Underground, the set's highlight was the propulsive You Doo Right, a 20-minute excerpt from a 12-hour improvisatory session. The group completed several other masters, later to appear on SOUNDTRACKS and DELAY 1968, prior to the departure of Mooney. He was replaced by Kenji Damo Suzuki (b. 16 January 1950, Japan), whom Liebezeit and Czukay had discovered busking outside a Munich cafe. TAGO MAGO, a sprawling, experimental double set, then followed, the highlight of which was the compulsive Hallelujah. However, despite retaining a penchant for extended compositions, Can also began exploring a more precise, even ambient direction on EGE BAMYASI and FUTURE DAYS. 
Suzuki left the group in 1973, and although they flirted with other featured vocalists, Can remained a quartet for some time. In 1976 the group scored an unlikely UK Top 30 hit with I Want More, a song written by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, who also guested on several tracks from the attendant album, FLOW MOTION. Can was later augmented by two former members of Traffic, Rosko Gee (bass) and Reebop Kwaku Baah (percussion), but the departure of Czukay signalled their demise. The group completed OUT OF REACH without him, but the bassist returned to edit their next release, CAN. These largely disappointing releases made little impact and the unit split up at the end of 1978. 
Holger Czukay then pursued a successful solo career with a series of excellent solo albums and fruitful partnerships with David Sylvian and the Eurythmics. Irmin Schmidt completed several film soundtracks, Jaki Liebezeit formed his own group, the Phantom Band, and worked with systems musician Michael Rother, while Karoli recorded an excellent solo set. The four musicians remained in close contact and a reformed Can, complete with Malcolm Mooney, returned to the studio in 1987. The fruits of their renewed relationship appeared two years later in the shape of the excellent RITE TIME.