Mick Karn, the former bass player of pop band Japan, has died at the age of 52 after suffering from cancer.
A statement on Karn's website said the musician "passed away peacefully" on Tuesday at his London home in Chelsea, "surrounded by his family and friends".
Japan came to prominence in the early 1980s with hit albums that included Tin Drum and Gentlemen Take Polaroids.
John Taylor of Duran Duran said he was "one of the great visual and sound stylists of the late-70s/early-80s."
Born Adonis Michaelides in Cyprus in 1958, Karn emigrated to London when he was three years old.
His official biography tells how he bought his first bass guitar for £5 after a bassoon he played in an orchestra was stolen.
He formed Japan in 1974 with David Sylvian and the latter's younger brother Steve Jansen, performing for the first time when Karn was 15.
Having been joined by Richard Barbieri, another school friend, Japan landed their first record contract in 1977.
With their dyed hair and make-up, Japan offered a "glam" alternative to punk and later became associated with the New Romantic movement.
After Japan split in 1982, Karn continued to work on solo projects and recorded with Kate Bush, Gary Numan, Midge Ure and Joan Armatrading.
Karn briefly reunited with other members of Japan in 1991 for the one-off project Rain Tree
A statement on Karn's website said the musician "passed away peacefully" on Tuesday at his London home in Chelsea, "surrounded by his family and friends".
Japan came to prominence in the early 1980s with hit albums that included Tin Drum and Gentlemen Take Polaroids.
John Taylor of Duran Duran said he was "one of the great visual and sound stylists of the late-70s/early-80s."
Born Adonis Michaelides in Cyprus in 1958, Karn emigrated to London when he was three years old.
His official biography tells how he bought his first bass guitar for £5 after a bassoon he played in an orchestra was stolen.
He formed Japan in 1974 with David Sylvian and the latter's younger brother Steve Jansen, performing for the first time when Karn was 15.
Having been joined by Richard Barbieri, another school friend, Japan landed their first record contract in 1977.
With their dyed hair and make-up, Japan offered a "glam" alternative to punk and later became associated with the New Romantic movement.
After Japan split in 1982, Karn continued to work on solo projects and recorded with Kate Bush, Gary Numan, Midge Ure and Joan Armatrading.
Karn briefly reunited with other members of Japan in 1991 for the one-off project Rain Tree
Excellent performance. I didn't know the OGWT sometimes had a live audience!
ReplyDeleteA lot of comments I've read before and since Mick's untimely passing claim he was a maestro of the fretless bass.
What they fail to realise is that Mick (more often than not) played a fretted bass but made it SOUND like it was fretless... now THAT speaks volumes for his expertise!
2DJP/
ReplyDeleteYeah I don't remember the audience on the WhistleTest either...
Regards/