Damo Suzuki

Kenji Suzuki (鈴木健次, Suzuki Kenji, born 16 January 1950), better known as Damo Suzuki (ダモ鈴木), is a Japanese musician who has been living in Germany since the early 1970s and is best known as the former lead singer of the krautrock group Can.

Damo Suzuki
Suzuki performing in 2012
Background information
Birth nameKenji Suzuki
Born (1950-01-16) 16 January 1950
OriginJapan
GenresKrautrock, experimental rock
Occupation(s)Vocalist
Musician
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1970–1974, 1983–present
Associated actsCan 1-A Düsseldorf Dunkelziffer
Websitedamosuzuki.com

Biography

As a teenager, Suzuki spent the late 1960s wandering around Europe, often busking.[1]

When Malcolm Mooney left Can after recording their first album Monster Movie, Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit encountered Suzuki busking in Munich, Germany, whilst the two were sitting outside at a street café. They invited him to join the group, and he did, performing with them that evening.[2]

Suzuki was with Can from 1970 to 1973, recording a number of well-regarded albums such as Tago Mago, Future Days and Ege Bamyası. Suzuki's first vocal performance with Can was "Don't Turn the Light On, Leave Me Alone" from Soundtracks.[3] His freeform, often improvised lyrics, were sung in no particular language.[2] Suzuki departed from the band in 1973, and took a hiatus from music for the following decade while working other jobs.[4]

He returned to music in 1983, and currently leads what is known as "Damo Suzuki's Network" – as he tours, he performs live improvisational music with various local musicians, so-called "Sound Carriers".[5]

The Fall's 1985 album This Nation's Saving Grace features a song "I Am Damo Suzuki", inspired by the singer.[6] The rock band The Mooney Suzuki takes its name from Damo Suzuki and Can's earlier vocalist Malcolm Mooney.[7]

Since 1997 he has been touring or playing separate gigs.

Personal life

Suzuki lives in Cologne, although he has played more shows in the United Kingdom and has stated that British audiences are more receptive to his music than German ones.[4]

He met his wife Elke Morsbach in Cologne in 1985.[8] Suzuki was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014. The documentary Energy explores Suzuki's battle with cancer and relationship with Morsbach.[9][10]

During his hiatus from music, Suzuki became a Jehovah's Witness, but later left the organisation and now considers himself a believer in the Bible without being a member of any denomination or church.[11]

When asked about his political views, Suzuki expressed a dislike of American politics and the American police system. Suzuki also expressed a positive view of Brexit and expressed a strong preference for localism over economic globalization. In the same interview, he was critical of the European Union, preferring the sovereignty of smaller nations and regionalism.[4]

Discography

Damo Suzuki performs on the following albums:

  • Can Soundtracks 1970
  • Can Tago Mago 1971
  • Can Ege Bamyası 1972
  • Can Future Days 1973
  • Can Unlimited Edition 1976 (compilation)
  • Dunkelziffer In The Night 1984
  • Dunkelziffer III 1986
  • Can The Peel Sessions 1995
  • Dunkelziffer Live 1985 1997
  • Damo Suzuki's Network Tokyo on Air West 30.04.97 1997
  • Damo Suzuki's Network Tokyo on Air West 02.05.97 1997
  • Damo Suzuki's Network Osaka Muse Hall 04.05.97 1997
  • Damo Suzuki Band V.E.R.N.I.S.S.A.G.E. 1998
  • Damo Suzuki Band P.R.O.M.I.S.E. (7CD Box) 1998
  • Damo Suzuki's Network Seattle 1999
  • Damo Suzuki's Network Odyssey 2000
  • Damo Suzuki's Network JPN ULTD Vol.1 2000
  • Damo Suzuki's Network Metaphysical Transfer 2001
  • Damo Suzuki's Network JPN ULTD Vol.2 2002
  • Cul De Sac / Damo Suzuki Abhayamudra 2004
  • Sixtoo – Chewing on Glass & Other Miracle Cures 2004
  • Damo Suzuki's Network Hollyaris 2005 (2CD)
  • Damo Suzuki's Network 3 Dead People After The Performance 2005
  • Damo Suzuki and Now The London Evening News 2006 (CD)
  • Damo Suzuki's network Tutti i colori del silenzio 2006 (CD)
  • Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Damo Suzuki Please Heat This Eventually 2007
  • Safety Magic Voices 2007
  • Audioscope Music for a Good Home 2010 (CD)
  • Damo Suzuki & The Holy Soul Dead Man Has No 2nd Chance 2010 (CD)
  • Damo Suzuki & Cuzo Puedo Ver Tu Mente 2011(CD/LP)
  • Damo Suzuki & Congelador 2011
  • Damo Suzuki & God Don't Like It Ensemble Live At Cafe Oto 2011
  • Radio Massacre International "Lost in Transit 4: DAMO" 2010 (CD)
  • Can The Lost Tapes 2012 (compilation)
  • Simon Torssell Lerin / Bettina Hvidevold Hystad with Damo Suzuki Simon Torssell Lerin / Bettina Hvidevold Hystad with Damo Suzuki 2013 (Vinyl Box Set Including Book And LP)
  • Seven Potatoes: Damo Suzuki Live in Nanaimo (2XLP) 2013
  • Damo Suzuki and Øresund Space Collective Damo Suzuki møder Øresund Space Collective 2014 (Digital and 3xLP)
  • Damo Suzuki & Mugstar Start From Zero 2015 (LP)
  • 1-A Düsseldorf Uraan 2016 (2×CD, Album)
  • Damo Suzuki & Black Midi - Live at the Windmill Brixton with 'Sound Carriers' 2018 (Digital)

Videography

References
  1. Damo Suzuki and Jelly Planet, All Tomorrow's Parties website. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  2. "Czukay.com". Afternic.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  3. Czukay, Holger (May 1997). A Short History of the Can – Discography, Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  4. Hughes, Rob (2016). "The Prog Interview: Can's Damo Suzuki". Louder. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021.
  5. "A list of Damo's "Sound Carriers"". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  6. "He Is Damo Suzuki". 3ammagazine.com. 4 October 2006. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  7. Minkovsky, Natalya. "Mooney Suzuki Interview". Kludge. Archived from the original on 9 February 2006. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  8. "Damo Suzuki: 'I just don't like to have any kind of a goal'". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  9. "New feature-length documentary on CAN's Damo Suzuki crowd-funding now; never-ending tour continues". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  10. "Damo Suzuki Documentary "Energy" Gets Strong Crowdfund Support". 17 July 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  11. Greer, Robert (2014). "Being Damo Suzuki: The Man Who Practically Invented Post-Punk and Ambient Music". Vice. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021.
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