"Behold the individual at the rear, strumming a guitar awkwardly? Unfortunately, his identity remains unknown to me! The iconic Krautrock band Can, momentarily transforming into British pop music stars, form the subject matter."
In 1976, German rock band Can made a surprising foray into the pop music scene with their hit single "I Want More". The song, which marked a departure from their more experimental work, was a groovy, funk-influenced track that resonated with audiences.
Despite its success, the band members never felt pressured to produce more hits. In fact, "I Want More" was not intentionally written to be a chart-topper. The song was penned by Peter Gilmour, Can's live sound engineer, during a jam session.
The band's appearance on Top of the Pops, the renowned British music television show, was a bit of a scramble. Guitarist Michael Karoli was on holiday in Kenya at the time, and a stand-in guitarist was needed. Unfortunately, the name of the stand-in is not mentioned in the available records.
The success of "I Want More" was a welcome boost for the band. It was their only single to chart in Britain, and it attracted an audience beyond their usual fanbase. Interestingly, all members of Can are featured on vocals in the song, with Alexander "Child" Kretzschmar taking the lead.
Despite the song's commercial success, it did not alter Can's approach to making music. The band continued to create music that was true to their experimental roots.
Before the era of mobile phones and email, the band members were asked to return from their holidays for the Top of the Pops appearance. Can took the success of their hit single in their stride, and their fans, who were known for their acceptance of diverse types of music, welcomed "I Want More" with open arms.
Interestingly, Can had successful singles before in Germany, but "I Want More" was their only single to chart in Britain. The success of the song was good for the band, providing them with a broader audience and a new chapter in their musical journey.
However, the exact inspiration behind "I Want More" remains somewhat mysterious. For a deeper understanding of the song's origins and meaning, one might look to direct interviews with band members or official band histories.
In 1976, Can's guitarist Michael Karoli was on holiday in Kenya during their appearance on Top of the Pops.Although "I Want More" was a pop hit, Can never felt compelled to create more chart-topping songs.Despite its success, "I Want More" did not deviate Can's band from their experimental music roots.The song's lead vocals are by Alexander "Child" Kretzschmar, with all members contributing to the vocals.Can's venture into the pop music scene with "I Want More" was their only single to chart in Britain, contrasting their previous successful singles in Germany.
