Irmin Schmidt, the mastermind behind the German experimental rock band Can will receive the French Chevalier De L’Ordre Des Arts Et Des Lettres from the French Ministry of Culture.
The award, which comes with a knighthood, is awarded for his contribution to the arts and culture. He will receive the honor on February 10.
Schmidt first became interested in experimental music on a trip to New York where he was exposed to the counterculture world of Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground. He officially formed Can in 1968 with Michael Kasoli, Jaki Liebezeit and Holger Czukay. Their first album, Monster Movie, was released in 1969 while their last, Rite Time, came out twenty years later. Their 1976 single I Want More went to number 26 in 1976.
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