Rob Laakso

{{Short description|American musician (1979–2023)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Rob Laakso

| image = Rob Laakso Piknik i Parken 2019 (202206).jpg

| caption = Laakso performing in 2019

| image_size =

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1979|04|16}}

| birth_place = Massachusetts, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and given age|2023|5|4|44}}

| death_place =

| origin =

| instrument = Guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizers

| genre = Indie rock, indie folk, lo-fi

| occupation = Musician

| years_active =

| label = Matador

| past_member_of = Kurt Vile & the Violators, Swirlies, Mice Parade, The Wicked Farleys

| website = {{URL|roblaakso.com}}

}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/rob-laakso-kurt-vile-and-the-violators-and-swirlies-guitarist-dies-at-44/|title=Rob Laakso, Kurt Vile & the Violators and Swirlies Guitarist, Dies at 44|last=Corcoran|first=Nina|date=May 6, 2023|website=Pitchfork|access-date=May 6, 2023}}

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).{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/rob-laakso-mn0001867008/songs|title=Rob Laakso | Songs | AllMusic|publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2015-10-05}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/rob-laakso-kurt-vile-the-violators-swirlies-has-died/|title=Rob Laakso (Kurt Vile & The Violators, Swirlies) has died|last=Pearis|first=Bill|date=May 5, 2023|website=BrooklynVegan|access-date=May 6, 2023}} He was survived by his wife Mamie-Claire and their two children.{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2023/05/rob-laakso-kurt-vile-the-violators-dead-at-44/ |title=Rob Laakso, of Kurt Vile & The Violators, Dead at 44 |first=Scoop |last=Harrison |date=May 5, 2023 |website=consequence.net |access-date=May 5, 2023}}