Damo Suzuki was a singer and musician best known for his 1970s tenure with the influential Krautrock band Can, appearing on three of their most widely praised records: “Tago Mago,” “Ege Bamyası,” and “Future Days.”
- Died: February 9, 2024 (Who else died on February 9?)
- Details of death: Died in Cologne, Germany at the age of 74.
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Damo Suzuki’s legacy
Born in Japan, Suzuki had moved to Europe and was busking on the streets of Germany when he was discovered by members of Can, a rising band in the German avant garde scene. They asked him to join them on stage and there was immediate chemistry. When Can’s original singer Malcolm Mooney left the band, Suzuki stepped in to fill the void.
He first appeared on their 1970 album “Soundtracks,” but it was the following year’s “Tago Mago” that truly made its mark for both Suzuki and the band. The ambitious and intense double album fused jazz, funk, experimental noise, rock improvisation, and more to create a sonic stew that helped shape the nascent Krautrock scene. Suzuki would remain with Can for “Ege Bamyası” and “Future Days,” more accessible albums that capped off the band’s most respected period.
Suzuki left Can after “Future Days” and became a Jehovah’s Witness, retiring from music for a decade before returning in the 1980s. For the rest of his career, he performed countless improvisational shows, released more than 20 records under an array of artist names, and released a memoir, “I Am Damo Suzuki,” in 2019. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014 and battled it throughout the final 10 years of his life.
Notable quote
“When by accident something happens, it’s much more interesting than if you plan it. I like to live the whole of my life quite free like this.”—from a 2018 interview for Mojo Magazine
Tributes to Damo Suzuki
Full obituary: Billboard
