About
Rob Laakso (April 16, 1979 – May 4, 2023) was an American musician, record producer and engineer, best known as the recording partner of indie rock musician Kurt Vile and as a multi-instrumentalist in his backing band the Violators. Laakso also played in the shoegaze band Swirlies, among others. Born in Massachusetts in 1979, Laakso graduated from Emerson College.
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After contributing to Vile's second and fourth studio albums, God Is Saying This to You... (2009) and Smoke Ring for My Halo (2011), Laakso became a full member of the Violators in 2011 after the departure of guitarist Adam Granduciel. After joining the band, Laakso contributed heavily to Vile's subsequent studio albums, Wakin on a Pretty Daze (2013), b'lieve I'm goin down... (2015), Bottle It In (2018) and (watch my moves) (2022).
Laakso died on May 4, 2023, at the age of 44, from cholangiocarcinoma, a fairly rare and aggressive form of cancer of the bile duct. He was married and had two children.
Member of
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Swirlies guitar
Links
Official
Social
Reference
Instrumental supporting musician
Also known as
Robert Daniel Laakso
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 162e59b3-05af-455d-a916-062a0bfa7ce8
- ISNI
- 0000000475670914
- IPI
- 00197787298
- IPI
- 00197787396
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 8 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.