Rob Laakso was a multi-instrumentalist indie musician who was a longtime member of the Violators and a key collaborator with Kurt Vile, in addition to working with bands like Swirlies and Mice Parade.
- Died: May 4, 2023 (Who else died on May 4?)
- Details of death: Died of bile duct cancer at the age of 44.
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Rob Laakso’s legacy
Rob Laakso’s talent with music spanned all aspects of the art, from producing records to playing a wide array of instruments. He studied audio at Emerson College in Boston, where he was exposed to the indie rock scenes in New England and New York. He honed his craft by engineering bands for live studio performances on the college radio station.
As an engineer and producer, Laakso worked with other artists, such as Modest Mouse and J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. As a musician, he played with the pioneering American shoegaze act Swirlies in the early 2000s, Mice Parade, and others. His best-known work, however, came alongside Kurt Vile and the Violators.
Laakso met Vile in the early 2000s. By 2009, they were working together on Vile’s album, “God Is Saying This to You…” Laakso officially joined the band in 2011 and would go on to collaborate with him on eight albums. He helped produce the records and played an array of instruments on them, occupying an essential role in Vile’s musical vision. In 2022, he launched a solo music project under the moniker Raw Bell.
Notable quote
“I’ve played some pretty interesting places for sure, but one of the most memorable ones was playing in Boston at the Courtney Barnett concert at the Orpheum. Being up on that stage, looking out and seeing where I used to stand – I mean I’ve played bigger venues and places that were farther away – but that was the most memorable.”—2023 Interview with WECB FM
Tributes to Rob Laakso
Full obituary: Rolling Stone
