Damo Suzuki

Damo Suzuki
Background information
Birth name Kenji Suzuki
Born (1950-01-16) 16 January 1950
Origin Japan
Genres Krautrock
Occupation(s) Vocalist
Musician
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1970–1974, 1983–present
Associated acts Can 1-A Düsseldorf
Website damosuzuki.de

Kenji Suzuki (鈴木健二, 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 German krautrock group Can.

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 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, were sung in no particular language.[2]

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]

The Fall's 1985 album This Nation's Saving Grace features a song "I Am Damo Suzuki," inspired by the singer.[5] The rock band The Mooney Suzuki takes its name from Damo Suzuki and Can's earlier vocalist Malcolm Mooney.[6]

Since 1997 he has been touring or playing separate gigs. He lives in Cologne.

Discography

Damo Suzuki performs on the following albums:

References

  1. ↑ Damo Suzuki and Jelly Planet, All Tomorrow's Parties website. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 Holger Czukay's official site
  3. ↑ Czukay, Holger (May 1997). A Short History of the Can – Discography, Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  4. ↑ A list of Damo's "Sound Carriers" Archived 20 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ 3:AM Magazine interview
  6. ↑ Minkovsky, Natalya. "Mooney Suzuki Interview". Kludge. Archived from the original on 9 February 2006. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
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