Published
Tue, Sep 5, 2017, 23:35
- The Can cofounder was found dead in his apartment in Weilerswist, Germany.
Holger Czukay has died.
The legendary musician was found dead today in his Weilerswist home, a former cinema that is also the site of Can's fabled Inner Space Studio. As Cologne newspaper Express reports, construction workers laboring at the complex had not spotted him for a few days, and a neighbor eventually found him lifeless in his apartment. A surgeon was called to the apartment and declared Czukay's death, the cause of which has not been made public. His death follows the passing of his wife, Ursula, who died July 28th, her 55th birthday.
Born in Poland in 1938, Czukay studied under Karlheinz Stockhausen in the '60s before starting Can alongside Irmin Schmidt in 1968. He played bass guitar and performed most of the engineering for the influential group, whose run includes defining Krautrock albums Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi and Future Days. His post-Can career had him collaborating with the likes of Conny Plank, David Sylvian, Jah Wobble and The Edge, among others, and he's also known for solo tunes like "Cool In The Pool" and "Persian Love."
His passing follows the death of Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit earlier this year.
Listen to Can's "Bel Air."
Artists and labels from across the electronic music spectrum have paid tribute to Czukay on social media.