Jaki Liebezeit (1938-2017)
January 23, 2017 2:31 AM Subscribe
Jaki Liebezeit, drummer and founding member of the influential German band Can, has died from pneumonia at the age of 78.
Some examples of his playing: Yoo Doo Right; Oh Yeah; Halleluwah; a drum solo.
In Can, Liebezeit devised a unique cyclical drumming style, anchoring the group's wildest improvisatory flows with metronomic, repetitive figures of mysterious power. “Jaki was always proud of being able to make certain people in the audience vomit,” claims Karoli. “He could focus on one person in the crowd, and this person would start vomiting. We had a very medical approach to music.”
“It would have been a healing for the guy; he needed it,” explains Schmidt. “Repetition is the basis of so much religious and ritual music.”—(source).
Looks like I'll be listening to 'Bel Air' on loop for a few hours.
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posted by mushhushshu at 3:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by mushhushshu at 3:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by saulgoodman at 3:25 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by saulgoodman at 3:25 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by nightrecordings at 3:30 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by nightrecordings at 3:30 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by the painkiller at 3:40 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by the painkiller at 3:40 AM on January 23, 2017
. . . . . . . . . . . . . to a motorik beat
posted by adamgreenfield at 3:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by adamgreenfield at 3:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Jaki playing free jazz in 1966: Manfred Schoof Quintet - Voices.
posted by misteraitch at 4:08 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by misteraitch at 4:08 AM on January 23, 2017
Damn. 2017 isn't going to be any better than 2016, is it?
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posted by klausness at 4:22 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by klausness at 4:22 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
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(looking at my facebook on this day thingy, Froese of Tangerine Dream also passed away sometime around this date two years ago, also from lung problems. I guess those central Europe winters are really rough)
posted by lmfsilva at 4:50 AM on January 23, 2017
(looking at my facebook on this day thingy, Froese of Tangerine Dream also passed away sometime around this date two years ago, also from lung problems. I guess those central Europe winters are really rough)
posted by lmfsilva at 4:50 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by miles per flower at 5:01 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by miles per flower at 5:01 AM on January 23, 2017
♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:22 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:22 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by SageLeVoid at 5:25 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by SageLeVoid at 5:25 AM on January 23, 2017
I was unfamiliar with emetic percussion theory!
posted by thelonius at 5:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 5:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
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> Jaki was always proud of being able to make certain people in the audience vomit
I'm pretty sure the beer should take credit for that.
posted by scruss at 5:53 AM on January 23, 2017
> Jaki was always proud of being able to make certain people in the audience vomit
I'm pretty sure the beer should take credit for that.
posted by scruss at 5:53 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by lowest east side at 6:07 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by lowest east side at 6:07 AM on January 23, 2017
Hey you
you're losing, you're losing, you're losing, you're losing your vitamin C
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posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 6:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
you're losing, you're losing, you're losing, you're losing your vitamin C
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posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 6:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
RIP Jaki. Anyone else here enjoyed Cyclopean? It's a more recent collaboration between Jaki and Irmin from Can and two others. It's a crisp, modern studio recording of veteran players with a great depth of field. Definitely a different recording/production style than the Can classics; a more contemporary take on Motorik. I'd like to hear some more recent recordings of Jaki cause he apparently never lost his edge. Anybody else know any other good post-Can studio or live recordings?
posted by kdilla at 6:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by kdilla at 6:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by brainimplant at 6:16 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by brainimplant at 6:16 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by oceanjesse at 6:38 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by oceanjesse at 6:38 AM on January 23, 2017
@kdilla
Are you familiar with Holger Czukay's Movies?
posted by lovelyzoo at 6:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Are you familiar with Holger Czukay's Movies?
posted by lovelyzoo at 6:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
He could focus on one person in the crowd, and this person would start vomiting.
Motoremetik
posted by Beardman at 6:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Motoremetik
posted by Beardman at 6:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
One of the best drummers ever IMO. Can can sometimes be a bit too much for me with the vocals and guitarsolo's.
One of my favorite albums of all time is half of Can with Jah Wobble: Full Circle
As for more modern recordings, I like this track with Schiller a lot.
posted by Kosmob0t at 7:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
One of my favorite albums of all time is half of Can with Jah Wobble: Full Circle
As for more modern recordings, I like this track with Schiller a lot.
posted by Kosmob0t at 7:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
The "Can Live Music 1971-1977" has some astonishing music on it.
posted by parki at 7:49 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by parki at 7:49 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by porn in the woods at 7:50 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by porn in the woods at 7:50 AM on January 23, 2017
I saw a mushroom head. I was born and I was dead.
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posted by xammerboy at 7:56 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by xammerboy at 7:56 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by ZipRibbons at 8:07 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by ZipRibbons at 8:07 AM on January 23, 2017
I knew Liebezeit first through Czukay's solo work, and both Movies and Full Circle are absolutely at the foundations of my love of music. The junkshop cuckoo clock collector's aesthetic of Czukay with the spare, open, mechanical-not-mechanical beat of Liebezeit's percussion informed how I work as a writer, too, oddly enough.
I supposed I'd be a bit less sad, perhaps, if he'd just settled into retirement and lived out a statistically longish life for a former rock star, than I am instead, seeing him still working and vital up to the sudden and unexpected end, though there's something to be said for that, too.
I hope more people get curious about his work and listen, and that more drummers aspire to do what he did in such a deceptively simple way. So many lessons in so few perfectly placed strokes.
posted by sonascope at 8:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
I supposed I'd be a bit less sad, perhaps, if he'd just settled into retirement and lived out a statistically longish life for a former rock star, than I am instead, seeing him still working and vital up to the sudden and unexpected end, though there's something to be said for that, too.
I hope more people get curious about his work and listen, and that more drummers aspire to do what he did in such a deceptively simple way. So many lessons in so few perfectly placed strokes.
posted by sonascope at 8:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, man. I urge everyone who isn't familiar with Ege Bamyasi to run out and find a copy. (I confess I originally bought it for the cover, but then I wore out the grooves...) RIP, Jaki.
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posted by languagehat at 8:46 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by languagehat at 8:46 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Long time Can fan. He was one of the best players of all time. Amazing.
posted by Liquidwolf at 8:51 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by Liquidwolf at 8:51 AM on January 23, 2017
My favorite drummer. (Not that I'm a musician or anything.)
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posted by WalkingAround at 9:31 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by WalkingAround at 9:31 AM on January 23, 2017
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posted by Glomar response at 9:31 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by Glomar response at 9:31 AM on January 23, 2017
I wonder whether he was influenced by Clyde Stubblefield to any great extent. Because that is some rather funky drumming.
posted by acb at 9:40 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by acb at 9:40 AM on January 23, 2017
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I'm sure I've spent more of my adult years listening to Jaki Liebezeit than any other drummer, percussionist, hitter of things. Love to him and his muse.
A fairly recent interview
and speaking of Ege Bamyasi ... Can Spoon 1972
The passing of another giant
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posted by philip-random at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017
I'm sure I've spent more of my adult years listening to Jaki Liebezeit than any other drummer, percussionist, hitter of things. Love to him and his muse.
A fairly recent interview
and speaking of Ege Bamyasi ... Can Spoon 1972
The passing of another giant
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posted by philip-random at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017
Hey you - you're losing, you're losing, you're losing, you're losing your vitamin C.
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posted by Artw at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Artw at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 10:39 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 10:39 AM on January 23, 2017
How many drummers is that?
I'm pretty sure it's just him.
No...Wait...Really?
Bye Jaki.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 11:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm pretty sure it's just him.
No...Wait...Really?
Bye Jaki.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 11:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by mondo dentro at 11:13 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by mondo dentro at 11:13 AM on January 23, 2017
The passing of another giant
From that link. "Can is so good that even hipster approval couldn't ruin their reputation."
posted by philip-random at 12:11 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
From that link. "Can is so good that even hipster approval couldn't ruin their reputation."
posted by philip-random at 12:11 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Well dammit. It's his fault that whenever I sit down in front of the drums I end up knocking out weird polyrhythyms instead of whatever four-to-the-floor beat is expected behind americana.
posted by aspersioncast at 12:16 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by aspersioncast at 12:16 PM on January 23, 2017
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posted by talking leaf at 2:40 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by talking leaf at 2:40 PM on January 23, 2017
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posted by BlackLeotardFront at 2:58 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 2:58 PM on January 23, 2017
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posted by misterbee at 3:40 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by misterbee at 3:40 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Can: Mother Sky (1970).
No hyperbole to say he was one of the greatest drummers of the 20th century.
posted by ryanshepard at 3:57 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
No hyperbole to say he was one of the greatest drummers of the 20th century.
posted by ryanshepard at 3:57 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by cluebucket at 8:53 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by cluebucket at 8:53 PM on January 23, 2017
Can live (Grenoble 1976)
via bigO audio archive
>
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posted by philip-random at 9:23 PM on January 23, 2017
via bigO audio archive
>
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW
To reduce spamming, the BigO website is going through Cloudflare. What it does is scan your browser to ensure the visitor is not a spam. Do not be alarmed as this usually takes only a few seconds.
posted by philip-random at 9:23 PM on January 23, 2017
I think it's a lot of why Can sounds so modern.
posted by Artw at 11:21 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 11:21 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Vitamin C is addictive because of his drumming.
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posted by asok at 1:04 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by asok at 1:04 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Nozart XI - 7 SWLABR (Wertmüller, Pliakas, Surberg, Liebezeit, Bartetzki, Gold) ... playing the blues
posted by philip-random at 11:24 AM on January 24, 2017
posted by philip-random at 11:24 AM on January 24, 2017
It's his fault that whenever I sit down in front of the drums I end up knocking out weird polyrhythyms instead of whatever four-to-the-floor beat is expected behind americana.
You really might want to find a different setting for your drumming, if that is what you like to play. Americana isn't much about the rhythm section showing off....
posted by thelonius at 11:42 AM on January 24, 2017
You really might want to find a different setting for your drumming, if that is what you like to play. Americana isn't much about the rhythm section showing off....
posted by thelonius at 11:42 AM on January 24, 2017
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posted by silentbicycle at 8:48 PM on January 24, 2017
posted by silentbicycle at 8:48 PM on January 24, 2017
.-..-.-..-.-..-.-..- (ad infinitum)
posted by Len at 8:59 PM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Len at 8:59 PM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
RIP Jaki - can remember hearing Ege Bamyasi of the first time like it was yesterday, even though it was 25 years ago....
A heads up for any Melbourne based people, Burnt Friedman (a genius in his own right, but also an important recent Jaki collaborator with a series of albums called Secret Rhythms 1-5) is playing in Australia but also giving a lecture: Shadows of the West which given Burnts intricate love of rhythm will be undoubtedly fascinating
http://www.liquidarchitecture.org.au/program/burnt-friedman/
In his sound-lecture SHADOWS OF THE WEST legendary German electronic musician Burnt Friedman explores the fundamental differences between “Western” and “non-Western” notions of rhythm – in relation to his own work and his collaboration with Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit and their concept of “secret” or coded rhythms.
In Burnt’s own words, this presentation “touches ‘the core of musical practice’, ‘physics and maths inherent to music’ which i refer to as natural laws, and how these correspond with the problems that have risen on the scrapheap of Modernity.”
In picking through this ‘scrapheap’ Friedman argues that the vocabulary of ‘western popular music’ has stagnated, drawing on cultural theorist Mark Fisher’s notion of “the slow cancelation of the future”.
BURNT FRIEDMAN is one of Germany’s leading electronic musicians with a career spanning almost 40 years. His partnership with Jaki Liebezeit, the former drummer of CAN, has spanned over 15 years, resulting in a pioneering electronic-acoustic craft and musical vocabulary that stands apart the formulas of Western European and Anglo-American music.
posted by subbasshead at 11:09 PM on January 24, 2017
A heads up for any Melbourne based people, Burnt Friedman (a genius in his own right, but also an important recent Jaki collaborator with a series of albums called Secret Rhythms 1-5) is playing in Australia but also giving a lecture: Shadows of the West which given Burnts intricate love of rhythm will be undoubtedly fascinating
http://www.liquidarchitecture.org.au/program/burnt-friedman/
In his sound-lecture SHADOWS OF THE WEST legendary German electronic musician Burnt Friedman explores the fundamental differences between “Western” and “non-Western” notions of rhythm – in relation to his own work and his collaboration with Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit and their concept of “secret” or coded rhythms.
In Burnt’s own words, this presentation “touches ‘the core of musical practice’, ‘physics and maths inherent to music’ which i refer to as natural laws, and how these correspond with the problems that have risen on the scrapheap of Modernity.”
In picking through this ‘scrapheap’ Friedman argues that the vocabulary of ‘western popular music’ has stagnated, drawing on cultural theorist Mark Fisher’s notion of “the slow cancelation of the future”.
BURNT FRIEDMAN is one of Germany’s leading electronic musicians with a career spanning almost 40 years. His partnership with Jaki Liebezeit, the former drummer of CAN, has spanned over 15 years, resulting in a pioneering electronic-acoustic craft and musical vocabulary that stands apart the formulas of Western European and Anglo-American music.
posted by subbasshead at 11:09 PM on January 24, 2017
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Mr Liebezeit was a wonderful creator of deceptively "simple" drumming. Here he is on a favourite track from a favourite album: Backwater from Eno's Before and After Science (1977). Thanks, good sir.
posted by On the Corner at 5:09 AM on January 25, 2017
Mr Liebezeit was a wonderful creator of deceptively "simple" drumming. Here he is on a favourite track from a favourite album: Backwater from Eno's Before and After Science (1977). Thanks, good sir.
posted by On the Corner at 5:09 AM on January 25, 2017
Remembering Can Drummer Jaki Liebezeit's Otherworldly Groove
posted by lakersfan1222 at 9:42 AM on January 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by lakersfan1222 at 9:42 AM on January 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Remembering the architect of krautrock.
posted by ZipRibbons at 12:08 PM on January 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
I asked him if there were any other drummers whose work interested him:..|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|.
“Yes. 808 and 909”
posted by ZipRibbons at 12:08 PM on January 25, 2017 [2 favorites]
best obit yet c/o Jono Podmore.
“People have been playing drums with only their hands for 50,000 years. Why should I be any different?”
posted by philip-random at 1:40 PM on January 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
“People have been playing drums with only their hands for 50,000 years. Why should I be any different?”
posted by philip-random at 1:40 PM on January 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
And inspired by some of the stuff this thread both introduced me to and reminded me of ...
Jaki Liebezeit - sessions + mysteries (r.i.p.)
one hour plus of non-Can Jaki Liebezeit stuff, old and new.
posted by philip-random at 12:06 PM on January 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Jaki Liebezeit - sessions + mysteries (r.i.p.)
one hour plus of non-Can Jaki Liebezeit stuff, old and new.
posted by philip-random at 12:06 PM on January 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
RIP Jaki - can remember hearing Ege Bamyasi of the first time like it was yesterday, even though it was 25 years ago....
RIP indeed. I said this in the blue 11 years ago, referring to 45 years ago. (p.s. Finally I got it.)
posted by LeLiLo at 9:15 PM on January 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
RIP indeed. I said this in the blue 11 years ago, referring to 45 years ago. (p.s. Finally I got it.)
posted by LeLiLo at 9:15 PM on January 30, 2017 [1 favorite]
... and finally, the stuff of a recent radio program, completely concerned with Herr Liebezeit and Can: Canned Goods
posted by philip-random at 11:12 PM on February 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by philip-random at 11:12 PM on February 1, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Joey Michaels at 2:49 AM on January 23, 2017