Damo Suzuki
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Kenji Suzuki, popularly nicknamed Damo, (born January 16, 1950, Japan) is a rock/psychedelic/art/krautrock singer probably best known for his membership in German group Can.
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Biography
Suzuki spent the late 1960s wandering around Europe, often busking, during which time he would only have been a teenager.
When Malcolm Mooney left Can after recording their first album, Monster Movie, Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit encountered Suzuki singing on a street 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.
Suzuki was with Can from 1970 to 1973, recording a number of well-regarded albums such as Tago Mago and Ege Bamyasi. His freeform, often improvised lyrics fit well with Can's rolling, psychedelic sound.
Suzuki converted to the Jehovah's Witness faith when he married his German girlfriend of the faith after the release of 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 and records music with various local musicians everywhere he visits, thus building up a 'network' of musicians that he has and can collaborate with. His 2005 release under this moniker is titled Hollyaris.
Since his comeback in 1983, Damo Suzuki did numerous live performances with various bands and musicians (so-called Sound Carriers) from very different countries, adding mostly improvised singing to their music. Among the musicians on his live shows were Michael Karoli (guitarist of Can), Mani Neumeier (Guru Guru), band Cul De Sac from Boston, and many others. In the 2000s he went on Never Ending Tour, travelling all over the world and performing at the live concerts with Sound Carriers.
In 2004 he was singing for Passierzettel (de:Passierzettel) from Hamburg.
Recently he made a guest appearance for the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet when they played live in Cologne, Germany. He performed vocals on an unamed track. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez later returned the favour in February 2006 in Damo's Melbourne appearance.
Trivia
- The Fall's 1985 album "This Nation's Saving Grace"" features a song "I Am Damo Suzuki," inspired by and dedicated to the singer.
- The rock band The Mooney Suzuki takes its name from Damo Suzuki and Can's earlier vocalist Malcolm Mooney.
Discography
Damo Suzuki is present on the following albums:
- Can "Soundtracks" 1970
- Can "Tago Mago" 1971
- Can "Ege Bamyasi" 1972
- Can "Future Days" 1973
- Can "Unlimited Edition" 1976 (compilation)
- Dunkelziffer "In The Night" 1984
- Dunkelziffer "III" 1986
- 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
- Damo Suzuki's Network "Hollyaris" 2005 (2CD)