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Outlook: Unrepeated: Damo Suzuki's improvisations in music and life

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Damo Suzuk

22/12/2022 GMT

Unrepeated: Damo Suzuki's improvisations in music and life

BBC World Service - Outlook, Unrepeated: Damo Suzuki's improvisations in music and life

The iconic Can vocalist on walking away from fame to follow a life of improvisation

The legendary Japanese vocalist made his name with the pioneering band Can. Now 72, and despite over 40 operations for cancer, he is still performing.

Vocalist Damo Suzuki was born in Japan in 1950, but his desire to explore the world saw him move to Sweden as a teenager. He spent the next few years busking in an improvised style on the streets of various European towns and cities. A chance encounter in Munich with the pioneering German band Can led to him being asked to join them as their new vocalist, and he appeared on stage that same day. But Damo left Can when they were at their peak, shunning fame for a simpler life bringing up a family and working as a hotel receptionist. Later, facing the same cancer that killed his father, he made a radical return to music, and credits it with saving his life. 

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Patrick Kiteley

(Photo: Damo Suzuki performs on stage at The Harley, Sheffield. Credit:Gary Wolstenholme/Redferns)

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