Founding member of seminal krautrock band Can Jaki Liebezeit dies, Getintothis’ Peter Guy reports.
Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit has died aged 78.
Liebezeit was renowned for his motorik style and performed on Can’s seminal albums Tago Mago, Future Days and Ege Bamyasi.
He appeared on Brian Eno’s Before and After Science as well as solo records by Neu!’s Michael Rother and also collaborated with Depeche Mode and the Eurythmics.
His style was metronomic that critics had referred to him as ‘half man, half machine’ as witnessed on tracks like Vitamin C and the side-long Halleluhwah.
Krautrock: finding beauty in the brutalism – a response to David Stubbs’ Future Days
In recent years, Liebezeit released collaborative records with Robert Coyne, Holger Mertin, Burnt Friedman, and Hans Joachim Irmler. He was set to reunite with Can’s Irmin Schmidt and Malcolm Mooney in April for a concert billed under the name “The Can Project.”
Liebezeit‘s death was confirmed via Can’s official Facebook page.
Tributes have started to pour in from the world of music, see several below.
RIP- Jaki liebezeit
Who's playing had the biggest influence on me.
If I was only 10% the player you were I'd be happy. pic.twitter.com/0hfCsXakDy— Geoff Barrow (@jetfury) January 22, 2017
#RIP Jaki Liebezeit, the heartbeat of contemporary music, on his final trip to Mother Sky. #UpHill
— Andy VoteI (@AndyVotel) January 22, 2017
Farewell, Jaki Liebezeit. I'll never tire of listening to you play.
— alex kapranos (@alkapranos) January 22, 2017
Really sad to hear that the world has lost Jaki Liezebeit. One of the greatest drummers of all time and a great guy. https://t.co/rmKaoVn6RL
— stuart braithwaite (@plasmatron) January 22, 2017