All Gates Open by Rob Young

All Gates Open by Rob Young

'A real treat for Can fans.' Spectator

All Gates Open is the definitive story of the most influential and revered avant-garde band of the late twentieth century: Can.

In part one, Rob Young gives us the full biography- an in-depth and exhilarating history of the band.

In part two, Irmin Schmidt presents an oral history of Can, drawing on extensive interviews with many musicians who cite the band as an influence, including Bobby Gillespie and Mark E. Smith.

An essential book for Can fans, All Gates Open is illustrated throughout with previously unseen art, photographs and ephemera from the band's archive.

Irmin Schmidt, pupil of the likes of Stockhausen and Ligeti, decided in the late 1960s - after an extensive classical education as pianist, conductor, and composer - to combine classic New Music with Rock and Jazz: and founded the band CAN. After CAN, Irmin Schmidt returned to his work as a solo-artist. The result is a vast oeuvre which includes a series of solo albums, an opera (Gormenghast based on the Mervyn Peak trilogy), a ballet, and over 100 film scores In 2015, he was made a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He lives in southern France.

Rob Young has worked at The Wire magazine since 1993, including five years as editor. He is the author of Rough Trade, Warp and the acclaimed Electric Eden, and the editor of Undercurrents: The Hidden Wiring of Modern Music and The Wire Primers: A Guide to Modern Music. He has contributed to publications including Uncut, the Guardian, Sight & Sound, Frieze, and Art Review. He lives in Oslo with his family.