This weekend the news of the death of Damo Suzuki, who was the vocalist of the influential Can in the early 70s, was known. The Japanese Kenji Suzuki – this was his real name – was the singer of Can only since 1970 – when he replaced Malcolm Mooney after meeting the band outside a cafe – and until 1973, but it so happens that in those years they released their most influential albums.
Among them was ‘Ege Bamyasi’ (1972), which means that Damo Suzuki was the one who sang ‘Vitamin C’, the most popular song of Can’s entire career, the vivid ‘I’m So Green’ and also for example ‘ Spoon’. Can’s label, precisely called Spoon Records, has stated that they will “miss Damo’s kind soul and his daring smile.”
Other Can albums in which Damo Suzuki participated were the second album of the German group ‘Soundtracks’ (1970), the also seminal ‘Tago Mago’ (1971) and ‘Future Days’ (1973). Can continued without him with more and less luck, and he operated as Damo Suzuki’s Network, with whom he toured improvisations.
He also made headlines for his political opinions. He was very critical of the United States and the European Union, and favorable to Brexit. First he was a Jehovah’s Witness, then he resigned.
The cause of Damo Suzuki’s death has not been revealed, although Pitchfork recalls that in 2014 he was diagnosed with colon cancer.
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