The Pop Group’s Mark Stewart Dies at 62
Mark Stewart, the vocalist and one of many founding members of the pioneering UK post-punk band the Pop Group, has died, based on an announcement from his longtime label, Mute Data. No reason for demise was given. Stewart was 62 years outdated.
Stewart shaped the Pop Group in Bristol, England, in 1977 as a teen, 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 energetic 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 challenge launched final 12 months.
In its assertion, Mute Data wrote, “Realizing Mark, working with him, laughing with him and considering with him was like nothing else. His massively assured and dominating presence was coupled with a delicate, heat, artistic, curious, clever and hilarious nature—traits that had been usually hidden upon first assembly this towering tour de pressure—and as quickly as that unmistakable twinkle in his eye appeared, there could possibly be little question that he can be in your nook.”
Adrian Sherwood added, “Thanks my brother. You had been the largest musical affect in my life and our prolonged household will miss you so a lot. Love without end.”