Jaki Liebezeit, the founding (and only) drummer of krautrock pioneers Can, has died at age 78 after a sudden bout with pneumonia. "It is with great sadness we have to announce that Jaki passed away this morning from sudden pneumonia," the band announced on their official Facebook page. "He fell asleep peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. We will miss him hugely." The group released 11 albums - including their groundbreaking 1969 debut Monster Movie and 1971's absolutely amazing Tago Mago - between their 1968 formation and unofficial 1979 split. They have reunited sporadically over the years both on stage and in the studio, releasing one more album (1989's Rite Time) and contributing a song to the soundtrack of the 1991 film Until the End of the World. Following that 1979 break, Liebezeit joined drum-focused bands such as Drums off Chaos and Club off Chaos, and collaborated with artists such as Brian Eno, Depeche Mode and Jah Wobble. His most recent release was Cyclopean's 2013 self-titled EP, which found him working with fellow founding Can member Irmin Schmidt.

Musicians We Lost in 2016

 

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