Story updated at 2.30pm on February 26.
Former Talk Talk frontman Mark Hollis has died at the age of 64.
Anthony Costello, a relation of Hollis, broke the news: “RIP Mark Hollis. Cousin-in-law. Wonderful husband and father. Fascinating and principled man.
“Retired from the music business 20 years ago but an indefinable music icon.”
RIP Mark Hollis. Cousin-in-law. Wonderful husband and father. Fascinating and principled man. Retired from the music business 20 years ago but an indefinable musical icon. Talk Talk - It's My Life (Live at Montreux 1986) https://t.co/eGRfLWHt6rFebruary 25, 2019
Hollis’ former manager Keith Aspden later told the BBC: “Sadly it’s true. Mark has died after a short illness from which he never recovered.
He added: “I can't tell you how much Mark influenced and changed my perceptions on art and music. I'm grateful for the time I spent with him and for the gentle beauty he shared with us."
On Facebook, former Talk Talk bassist Paul Webb (aka Rustin Man) said: “I am very shocked and saddened to hear the news of the passing of Mark Hollis. Musically he was a genius and it was a honour and a privilege to have been in a band with him.”
Video director Tim Pope, who worked with Talk Talk on several music videos, tweeted: “Goodbye to Mark Hollis of Talk Talk. Condolences to his lovely family. We had many, many laughs together.”
Goodbye to Mark Hollis of Talk Talk. Condolences to his lovely family. We had many, many laughs together. This is us being the nightmare interview from hell https://t.co/xzqfQnN4P6February 25, 2019
Peter Hammill of Van Der Graaf Generator paid tribute, calling Hollis "a co-tunneller under the surface of what pop music might mean".
I never mer Mark Hollis but always had the feeling that he was a co-tunneller under the surface of what that pop music might mean.Here we are, there we went.RIPFebruary 25, 2019
Gary Kemp, bassist with Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets also paid tribute to Hollis, saying on Twitter: "Been re-listening to Mark Hollis’s dream-soaked Spirit Of Eden today.
"His influence upon music was immense and far reaching. A great presence in the modern era who took his bow far too early but has left us so much still to be moved by."
Hollis formed Talk Talk in 1981. After early synth-pop hits such as It's My Life, they began to branch out in different directions, releasing the classic albums Colour Of Spring and Spirit Of Eden.
Hollis split the band shortly after launching the hugely influential Laughing Stock album in 1991. He released a self-titled solo album in 1998, but effectively retired from music after that.
It's Prog Jim But Not As We Know It: Mark Hollis
Posted by SpiritOfTalkTalk on
Goodbye Mark Hollis,We owe you so much ,I cant overstate the influence on us three as musicians and us as a band.#markhollis #talktalkFebruary 25, 2019
If you can grab your headphones and give the wonderful Mark Hollis RIP your ears @TalkTalkBand were one fine band who made some of the 80's finest moments and left it there. https://t.co/CzzqqwuWGp. THIS LIVE CONCERT IS EPIC.February 25, 2019
Been relistening to Mark Hollis’s dream-soaked Spirit of Eden today. His influence upon music was immense and far reaching. A great presence in the modern era who took his bow far too early but has left us so much still to be moved by. #MarkHollisRIP #TalkTalkFebruary 26, 2019
Very sorry to hear the news that #MarkHollis of #TalkTalk has died. He was behind some of the finest albums of the 1980s / early 1990s. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/IoTuAkGCUfFebruary 25, 2019
