The news of Can vocalist Damo Suzuki‘s death came Saturday morning and tributes from fans and fellow artists have been pouring in ever since.
Beak>, the very Can-influenced band that includes Portishead’s Geoff Barrow, wrote “He never stopped & always looked forward. He brought us all so much joy and leaves behind a beautiful body of work for us all to enjoy.”
Geoff Barrow also posted his own tribute, saying “Quite easily the Band with the biggest influence on me….Damo’s Vocals were like None other, his melodies and lyrics came from somewhere else Inbetween blues and traditional folk and pure noise and rhythmic energy.”
Tom Skinner of The Smile and Sons of Kemet wrote, “Grateful that I got to share the stage with him a few years back. An unforgettable experience. What an incredible human being.”
American Football‘s Mike Kinsella wrote, “His music with CAN had a huge influence on us, and seeing our friends in Defender back him up in 2003 at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago is still among the greatest shows I’ve ever seen.”
Mogwai‘s Stuart Braithwaite called Damo “One of the greatest rock and roll singers of all time,” adding, “When Barry and me played with him it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.”
Head below for more tributes, including ones from Massive Attack, Luna‘s Dean Wareham, Billy Idol, HEALTH, The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess, Acid Mothers Temple’s Kawabata Makoto, Matmos’ Drew Daniel, Elijah Wood, producer/mixer David Wrench, Bo Ningen, Sinkane, The Coral, and more.
Damo Suzuki
🙌🏻❤️🔥🙏🏻✨💫
Grateful that I got to share the stage with him a few years back. An unforgettable experience. What an incredible human being. RIP pic.twitter.com/VtcvTS2tWZ— Tom Skinner (@TomSkinner__) February 10, 2024
RIP #DamoSuzuki I was a big fan of Can.. Damo was the lead singer and I saw the Tago Mago tour in ‘74 great band great singer ! pic.twitter.com/tbtu8YEMss
— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) February 11, 2024
R.I.P. Damo Suzuki and thank you for the music. pic.twitter.com/YBZg8BPe7q
— DREW DANIEL (@DDDrewDaniel) February 10, 2024
Rest in peace Damo Suzuki. I love you man
— HEALTH (@_HEALTH_) February 10, 2024
RIP Damo Suzuki. His music with CAN had a huge influence on us, and seeing our friends in Defender back him up in 2003 at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago is still among the greatest shows I've ever seen.
— American Football (@americfootball) February 10, 2024
met Damo Suzuki 2012 at a small festival we played in Alberta, Canada — he would play gigs in Canada but long refused to play in the USA. Talking to him backstage, someone approached and told him "I love your singing." "NO," he said, "I am not singing. I am BEING DAMO SUZUKI"
— Dean Wareham (@WarehamDean) February 12, 2024
R.I.P. Damo Suzuki. Total icon. One-off visionary. One of the greatest to ever front a band. What a performer! I’ve never seen anyone else with such a stage presence. Even when he wasn’t doing anything you couldn’t take your eyes off him. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RfS4z9WrxA
— david wrench (@davidwrench) February 10, 2024
R.I.P. Damo Suzuki…
i could have so many great experiences on this planet!
see you in next space! pic.twitter.com/ZOpYeyfEaw— Kawabata Makoto (@SpeedGuru69) February 10, 2024
Countless memories. Arigato for guiding us through. またね、ダモさん。 pic.twitter.com/kTUhutz8Fd
— BO NINGEN (@boningenuk) February 10, 2024
https://twitter.com/kidcongopowers/status/1756396501537017882
https://twitter.com/Sinkane/status/1756347459196923932
Oh, sitting on my chair/ where nobody wants to care #damosuzuki https://t.co/gdCxk4XviA
— The Coral (@thecoralband) February 10, 2024
A legend and kinetic force of nature. Rest well, Damo Suzuki. Blast Can’s Halleluhwah today! pic.twitter.com/JFwO1WrpoK
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) February 10, 2024
RIP Damo Suzuki. Thank you for the music, the lifer vibes, and for having Parts & Labor play your 53rd birthday party. The crowd sang happy birthday and Damo jumped off stage and hugged everyone. Totally bizarre and beautiful night. https://t.co/3r6CIvbDRM
— Dan Friel (@dfrieldfriel) February 10, 2024
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3LKrF8tCcp/?hl=en&e=576cd727-7960-4120-993d-2f0d5e822438&g=5
R.I.P Damo Suzuki pic.twitter.com/FNSpu8IOWG
— Invada Records UK (@invadarecordsUK) February 10, 2024
DAMO SUZUKI FOREVER pic.twitter.com/3S8RMtum9l
— Light in the Attic (@lightintheattic) February 10, 2024
who hasn't gone through a heavy CAN phase? I envy you if you haven't yet. RIP DAMO SUZUKI. "For the sake of future days…"
— The Reds, Pinks & Purples (@GlennDonaldson) February 10, 2024
RIP to Damo Suzuki, a true artist, a magician, a genius, an icon
— eric slick (@ericslickmusic) February 10, 2024
🫥 Damo Suzuki, of the peerless Can, RIP x pic.twitter.com/Av67bLIlgK
— James Yorkston (@jamesyorkston) February 10, 2024
ありがとう、そして別れ Damo Suzuki さん pic.twitter.com/AS0ywS8Q8J
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) February 10, 2024
Damo Suzuki RIP ‘ a free spirit who was like the ghost of music past and full of the brilliant possibilities of another time. ’https://t.co/06GDSw9caO via @louderthanwar
— john robb (@johnrobb77) February 10, 2024
RIP Damo Suzuki. Here he is playing with @earlyyearsband at a legendary Sonic Cathedral night at The Legion on November 3, 2006 🖤 pic.twitter.com/J84kW9zDzd
— Sonic Cathedral (@soniccathedral) February 10, 2024

