| Damo Suzuki | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kenji Suzuki |
| Born | 16 January 1950 |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | Krautrock |
| Occupations | Vocalist Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar Vocals |
| Associated acts | Can |
| Website | http://www.damosuzuki.de/ |
Kenji Suzuki (鈴木健二 Suzuki Kenji, born 16 January 1950, in Japan), universally known as Damo Suzuki (ダモ鈴木), is a singer best known for his membership in the German krautrock group Can.
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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 Bamyasi. 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, sung in no particular language[2] gelled with Can's rolling, psychedelic sound.
Suzuki converted to the Jehovah's Witness[2] faith when he married his German girlfriend, who was also a Jehovah's Witness, after the release of the album Future Days, and retired from music in 1974.
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" [4]) from around the world, thus building up a 'network' of musicians with whom he collaborates. As far as more recent recorded material is concerned, Damo is featured on electronic/hip-hop producer Sixtoo's album, "Chewing on Glass and Other Miracle Cures" (Ninja Tune, 2004).
Among the musicians in his live shows have been Michael Karoli and Jaki Liebezeit of Can, Mani Neumeier of Guru Guru, Dustin Donaldson of I Am Spoonbender, Cul De Sac, Passierzettel, The Early Years, The Bees, Do Make Say Think, Broken Social Scene, Airiel, Acid Mothers Temple, The Holy Soul, Steve Dinsdale, The Sandells, Tay Zonday, the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet (with whom he has recorded the 2007 EP Please Heat This Eventually), The Skull Defekts, AIDS Wolf, Radio Massacre International, Edmondo Ammendola and Dave Williams of Augie March, Gordon J Watson & Simon Doling of Terminal Cheesecake, Jonny Williams, Stephen McBean from Black Mountain, The Prestidigitators, Gary Jeff of God, Calamalka, Karl Asa of J>A>W>, Hamish Black, tynder, Neočekivana Sila Koja Se Iznenada Pojavljuje i Rešava Stvar and many, many others.[4]
Suzuki has been recognised by name by at least three different bands. The Fall's 1985 album This Nation's Saving Grace features a song "I Am Damo Suzuki," inspired by and dedicated to the singer.[5] The rock band The Mooney Suzuki takes its name from Damo Suzuki and Can's earlier vocalist Malcolm Mooney.[6] UK based psych/prog rockers Dudes Of Neptune have dedicated an album, Jamming For Damo, to Suzuki.[7]
Damo Suzuki is present on the following albums:
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