Mark Stewart, the vocalist and one of many founding members of the pioneering UK post-punk band the Pop Group, has died, in keeping with a press release from his longtime label, Mute Data. No reason for loss of life was given. Stewart was 62 years outdated.
Stewart shaped the Pop Group in Bristol, England, in 1977 as a young person, performing because the band’s vocalist alongside guitarist John Waddington, bassist Simon Underwood, guitarist and saxophonist Gareth Sager, and drummer Bruce Smith. Impressed by genres together with dub, proto-punk, and funk, they infused their experimental rock music with sharp anti-establishment politics on their influential debut album, Y, produced by reggae artist Dennis Bovell and launched the identical 12 months they shaped the band.
The Pop Group went on to signal with Tough Commerce, which issued the band’s second album, For How A lot Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Homicide? Following the Pop Group’s disbandment in 1980, Stewart labored with dub producer Adrian Sherwood to craft the 1983 album Studying to Cope With Cowardice, amongst others. Over time, Stewart continued to work as a musician, releasing a number of solo albums and collaborating with artists together with Large Assault, Tough, Chicks on Pace, and 9 Inch Nails. He additionally had an lively profession as a conceptual artist.
In 2010, the Pop Group reformed for a live performance tour, which led to 2 extra albums from the band, 2015’s Citizen Zombie and 2017’s Honeymoon on Mars. Stewart’s final album was Vs, a collaborative undertaking launched final 12 months.
In its assertion, Mute Data wrote, “Figuring out Mark, working with him, laughing with him and pondering with him was like nothing else. His vastly assured and dominating presence was coupled with a delicate, heat, artistic, curious, clever and hilarious nature—traits that have been usually hidden upon first assembly this towering tour de power—and as quickly as that unmistakable twinkle in his eye appeared, there might be little doubt that he can be in your nook.”
Adrian Sherwood added, “Thanks my brother. You have been the largest musical affect in my life and our prolonged household will miss you so a lot. Love endlessly.”