Susan Moss Montreal Obituary: Beloved Music Photographer Dies at 58 After Cancer Diagnosis

The Montreal music community is mourning the loss of Susan Moss, a respected concert photographer whose camera captured more than two decades of unforgettable moments across the city’s vibrant rock and music scene. Moss passed away on Friday at the age of 58, only one month after learning that she had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Moss died at home surrounded by loved ones after choosing medical assistance in dying as her health rapidly deteriorated. During the final weeks of her life, she was touched by messages of affection from musicians, photographers, colleagues, friends, and members of the Montreal community whose lives she had influenced throughout her career.

Despite the seriousness of her diagnosis, Moss approached the final chapter of her life with the humor, honesty, and directness that friends and colleagues knew well. She reflected that she had lived a remarkably fulfilling life and had accomplished far more through photography than she once imagined.

For more than 25 years, Moss was a familiar face in Montreal concert photo pits. She photographed thousands of performances, including shows promoted by Evenko, ranging from intimate club gigs and mid-sized venues to concerts at the Bell Centre and major music festivals.

Her photographs preserved an important visual record of Montreal’s music culture. Evenko senior vice-president Nick Farkas, who knew Moss from the beginning of her career in the 1990s, described her as an integral part of the city’s music scene and praised her ability to capture spontaneous moments others could easily miss.

One memorable photograph showed Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus during Osheaga in 2010, when a beer cup thrown from the crowd struck his guitar. Another favorite image featured KISS bassist and singer Gene Simmons extending his boot toward Moss’s camera from the stage.

Moss began photographing concerts in Montreal during the 1990s while working as a waitress at local rock bars, including Bifteck and Station 10. She eventually transformed her passion for music and photography into a career that earned her the respect of generations of artists and photographers.

Her influence also reached younger photographers. Sarah Evangelista recalled meeting Moss while photographing Tate McRae at the Corona Theatre in 2022, remembering her as welcoming, curious, and encouraging toward those entering the profession.

Moss’s love for music extended into her home, where framed photographs of women in music decorated her bedroom walls.

Montreal singer-songwriter Patrick Watson also remembered her as a distinctive presence in the city’s music community. He recalled sharing laughs and cigarettes with her after his performances and described her as gritty, punk rock, elegant, and deeply connected to Montreal.

Susan Moss leaves behind a remarkable photographic legacy and countless memories among musicians, photographers, promoters, fans, friends, and loved ones. Her photographs will continue to preserve the energy of the Montreal music scene she spent more than two decades documenting.