Damo Suzuki, the Japanese musician who spent a handful of memorable years as the singer of Can, died yesterday (February 9) aged 74. Can's label, Spoon Records, did not disclose the cause of death in its statement, but Suzuki had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014. “His boundless creative energy has touched so many around the world, not just Can , but also with all continents spanning the Network Tour,” the company wrote. “Damo's kind soul and cheeky smile will be forever missed.”
Born Kenji Suzuki in Kobe, Japan, the musician found his way to Germany in the late 1960s, joining Can after bassist Holger Czukay and drummer Jaki Liebezeit spotted him cruising outside a Munich cafe. Can had released only one album, in 1969 Monster moviewith original vocalist Malcolm Mooney before Suzuki joined for some work in the 1970s Soundtracks. The group's first full album with Suzuki was in 1971 Tago Magoand the singer really made his mark in the 1972s Ege Bamyasi, with “Vitamin C” and “Spoon”. Suzuki only made one more LP with the krautrock band, Future Daysbefore departing in 1973.
After leaving Can, Suzuki became a Jehovah's Witness and spent about a decade away from music. When he returned to music, he played shows worldwide with different local musicians, referring to the tours as the Damo Suzuki Network. He recorded many Network and solo releases over the following decades.
With co-author Paul Woods, Suzuki released the memoir I'm Damo Suzuki in 2019. The musician was also the subject of director Michelle Heighway's 2022 documentary Energy.
