Planet Funk Co-Founder Gigi Canu Dies at 66

Domenico ‘Gigi’ Canu, co-founder of Planet Funk and a central figure in Italy’s electronic music evolution, died on May 26, 2025, at the age of 66. A proud Neapolitan, Canu helped bridge electronic innovation with soulful warmth, earning international acclaim across decades.

Born in Naples in 1958, Canu studied the arts before moving to London in the mid-1980s. There, he collaborated with acts like Swing Out Sister, honing his style before returning to Italy to launch Souled Out with Sergio Della Monica. The group captured the era’s new soul movement, with standout tracks such as ‘Shine On’ and ‘Stuck on Love’.

Canu’s next chapter came with the founding of Planet Funk, alongside Della Monica, Marco Baroni, and Alex Neri. Their debut single ‘Chase the Sun’ broke through in 2001, climbing to No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and becoming a long-standing sports anthem. Known for blending live instruments with club-driven beats, the band helped define a modern Italian electronic sound.

Throughout his career, Canu remained a sought-after collaborator. He worked with Massive Attack’s 3D and joined forces with UNKLE’s James Lavelle, notably co-producing the Naples Global Underground compilation. Lavelle called him ‘a truly unique and eccentric character… a cultural force’.

Despite recent health struggles, Canu stayed active in music until his final days. His legacy lives on through the timeless works he helped create and the city he proudly represented.

Read UNKLE‘s farewell statement below: