Damo Suzuki has died at the age of 74.
The Japanese-born music star, who fronted experimental rock band Can at the height of his creative powers, died on Friday.
A message posted on Can’s Instagram account reads: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of our wonderful friend Damo Suzuki, yesterday, Friday, February 9, 2024.
‘His boundless creative energy has touched many people around the world, not only with Can, but also with his Network Tour across the continent. “We will forever miss Damo’s kind soul and cheeky smile.”
The musician was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014, after being diagnosed with the disease 30 years earlier.
Damo Suzuki passed away at the age of 74. The Japanese-born music star, who fronted the experimental rock band Can, at the height of his creative powers, died on Friday; seen in 2016
A message posted on Can’s Instagram account reads: ‘It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of our wonderful friend Damo Suzuki, yesterday, Friday, February 9, 2024’; seen in 2010
In reality, Suzuki was only given a ten percent chance of survival in 2014.
But in 2022, Suzuki revealed that he remained optimistic amid his health problems.
He told the Guardian newspaper at the time: “Everything is fine.” I’m an optimist and if you have positive thoughts everything will be fine.’
In fact, Suzuki stopped making music for a decade after leaving Can.
However, the singer later insisted that he has no regrets about his career choices.
Suzuki, who left Can in 1973, before eventually returning to the music scene, shared: “I’m not interested in holding on to the past, because I can’t change it.
“His boundless creative energy has touched many people around the world, not only with Can, but also with his continent-spanning Network Tour”; seen in 2007
Added: “Damo’s kind soul and cheeky smile will be forever missed”; seen in 2016
The German experimental rock group Can, from left to right; Holger Czukay, Michael Karoli, Damo Suzuki, Irmidt Schmidt and Jaki Leibzeit, during the Tago Mago period
‘If I can’t change it, I don’t want to spend time there.
“I like to spend time in the now because there I can create something new, but in the past I can’t.”
Suzuki also explained that it was constantly seeking to innovate.
He said, “I don’t like playing the same piece over and over again.”
‘Repetition is boring. Each performance should be a unique experience.”