As of: February 12, 2024, 11:58 a.m
By: Armin T. Linder
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A real legend has left the stage: the music world mourns Damo Suzuki.
International stars also have their say.
His career began by chance in Munich.
Cologne - Damo Suzuki has died at the age of 74.
From 1970 to 1973, the Japanese-born singer was the singer of the band Can, founded in Cologne in 1968, which was at the forefront of Krautrock and, alongside bands such as Neu!, Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream, achieved international fame far beyond the borders of the Republic.
That's why many stars outside of Germany are reacting to the news with sadness.
Damo Suzuki (center) performing in Tilburg (Netherlands) 2018. © Gonzales Photo/Peter Troest/Imago
Can confirm: Ex-member Damo Suzuki is dead
His band Can shared this on their Facebook page on Saturday (February 10th).
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our wonderful friend yesterday, Friday, February 9th,” it said.
“His boundless creative energy has touched so many around the world.” Not just with Can, they say.
Finally, after leaving the band, Suzuki was very active as a solo artist and with projects such as Damo Suzuki's Network.
His human side is also acknowledged in the statement.
“Damo’s dear soul and his cheeky smile will be missed forever.” He will now “join Michael, Jaki and Holger in a fantastic jam”.
This refers to Michael Karoli, Jaki Liebezeit and Holger Czukay, the three founding members of Can who have already passed away.
The cause of death was not disclosed; in 2014, Suzuki was diagnosed with colon cancer.
International stars are also mourning the loss of ex-Can member Damo Suzuki
How great the influence of Can and her long-time singer Damo Suzuki was is shown by the fact that many international stars have publicly commented on his death.
Actor Elijah Wood calls him “a legend and kinetic force of nature” on X (formerly Twitter).
Billy Idol reacts with concern: “RIP Damo Suzuki.
I was a big fan of Can.
Damo was the lead singer and I saw the Tago Mago tour in '74.
Great band, great singer!”
Bands and solo artists such as Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), American Football, Mouse On Mars and Tom Skinner (drummer alongside Radiohead star Thom Yorke in The Smile) also mourn at X. The latter writes: “I am grateful that I was able to share the stage with him a few years ago.
An unforgettable experience.
What an incredible human being.
RIP.”
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There is also great sadness in the features section.
“Ecstatic, intense and completely crazy,” is how the
SZ
began its obituary.
“By chance he became the singer of a band that had elevated chance to its artistic concept,” recalls the well-known music journalist Albert Koch in his
Zeit
obituary.
Damo Suzuki became a world star by chance in Munich
This refers to the oft-told story of how Suzuki became a Can member.
It happened in Munich, as the native Japanese reported in the SZ
interview a few years ago
: “I was looking for work in Germany at the time because I was returning after two years in a commune in Sweden and six months as a street musician in Ireland wanted to go to Japan, but had no more money.” He worked as a dancer in the musical “Hair” to finance his return to Japan.
But that annoyed him so much that “I vented my frustration with a street performance.”
It was on Leopoldstrasse in Munich-Schwabing - and purely by chance, Can members Czukay and Liebezeit were sitting in a nearby café.
After Malcom Mooney left, they suddenly found themselves without a singer.
“When Holger saw me,” says Suzuki, “he jumped up in this café on Leopoldstrasse and shouted: 'That's him!'”.
The members of the band Can with singer Damo Suzuki (M, front) in a photo from the documentary “Krautrock I” (undated film scene).
© picture alliance/dpa/Film Kino Text
They appeared on stage together that same evening.
“To be honest, I wasn't really keen on the idea of being part of a band.
But Holger really wanted it.
My big dream back then was actually to become a cartoonist.
“But I didn’t have much talent for it,” Suzuki told
SZ
.
The rest is music history.
The late Achim Benning also left his mark in Munich - as an actor in “Tatort”.
(lin)