Nikolas Asimos

(1949 - 1988)

Nikolas Asimos (Greek: Νικόλας Άσιμος, real name: Nikolas Asimopoulos, Thessaloniki, August 20, 1949 - Athens, March 17, 1988) was a Greek lyricist, composer and singer mainly of Greek rock, but he also sang political songs, ballads and folk songs. He was an unconventional artist, mostly in terms of lifestyle. His attitudes and the songs he wrote were often considered provocative. He was a highly politicized person, who did not accept classification into any ideology. Asimos was originally a leftist, but he acquired an anarchist consciousness shortly afterwards and then overcame anarchism as well, as he did not wish to be labeled. In the early hours of Thursday, March 17, 1988, he ended his life, before being tried. He hanged himself from a water pipe in the "Preparation Room", as he called his last shop at 55 Kallidromiou Street in Exarchia. He was buried the next day in Nea Smyrni, with his family, friends and a large crowd present.