The Krautrock legend was, among other things, involved in the Can masterpiece “Tago Mago”.
Damo Suzuki is dead. The Japanese musician who was with the innovative German band for several years Can sang and wrote music history, died on February 9, 2024 at the age of 74. The cause of death is not yet publicly known. Suzuki was diagnosed with colon cancer in his 30s and the cancer returned in 2014.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our wonderful friend Damo Suzuki yesterday, Friday, February 9, 2024. His boundless creative energy has touched so many people around the world, not only with Can, but also with his continent-spanning Network Tour,” writes the band Can on their official social media accounts. “Damo’s kind soul and cheeky smile will be missed forever. He’ll be joining Michael, Jaki and Holger for a fantastic jam! “Many greetings to his family and children,” the statement also said. Details about his funeral will be released later.
From street music to Can
It was a coincidence that Damo Suzuki ended up at Can in the late 1960s. The band members Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit had seen Suzuki when he was busking in Munich. Suzuki became part of the band and played a concert with the group on the same day. The first full collaboration in the studio – the double album “Tago Mago” released in 1971 – became a classic. Suzuki was also featured on the Can compilation “Soundtracks,” released in 1970. In 1973 he left the band and turned to religion, more specifically Jehovah’s Witnesses. He didn’t make music for a decade – but then returned and played in various formations and with his Damo Suzuki Band. His story can be read, among other things, in his autobiography “I Am Damo Suzuki” (published in 2019).
Colleagues mourn Suzuki
The Mars Volta singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala pays tribute to the musician. “My sincere condolences. Damo was untouchable. God bless his family. May he forever fill our souls with his endless contributions to music. May Mother Heaven’s rain fall on all who have been influenced by it. Damo is forever,” he wrote under Can’s post.
Billy Idol is also grieving. “RIP #DamoSuzuki I was a big fan of Can…Damo was the lead singer and I saw the Tago Mago tour in ’74 great band great singers,” Idol wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Actor Elijah Wood, known for “The Lord of the Rings,” writes: “A legend and a kinetic force of nature. Rest in peace, Damo Suzuki. Blast Can’s Halleluhwah today!”