MARK HOLLIS DIES AT 64

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Ife Adewole

Music icon, Lead song writer, Talk Talk singer Mark Hollis has died at the age of 64.

He was most popular as the co-founder, lead singer of synthpop band and creative mastermind behind the 80s new wave band that produced classic tracks like It’s My Life, Life’s What You Make It, Today and Such A Shame.

**English new wave band, Talk Talk pictured in 1982.Left to right: keyboard player Simon Brenner, singer Mark Hollis, drummer Lee Harris and bassist Paul Webb**

Other songs in their albums including; Spirit of Eden, The Colour of Spring and Laughing Stock, have been hailed as “masterpieces.”

Hollis retired from the music industry about 20 years ago to live a secluded live out of the public eye.

Mark Hollis hit song

Official statement of his death is yet to be released by any official representative but his ex-band mate and other former colleagues announced his death on Twitter after a family member broke the news.

His cousin-in-law Anthony Costello tweeted on Monday: “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 bassist Paul Webb – aka Rustin Man – tweeted about his former bandmate: “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.

“I have not seen Mark for many years, but like many musicians of our generation I have been profoundly influenced by his trailblazing musical ideas.

Meanwhile Tim Pope, who was known for directing the group’s music videos, also paid tribute to the musican.

He wrote: “Goodbye to Mark Hollis of Talk Talk.

“Condolences to his lovely family. We had many, many laughs together.”

Hollis is credited with influencing numerous modern-day artists – from Radiohead to Sigur Ros.

Actor Elijah Wood tweeted: “Sad to hear that Mark Hollis has passed.”

While Vampire Weekend’s Chris Baio wrote: “Mark Hollis changed my life. Thank you for everything.”

Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis tweeted: “Hope he knew how much he meant to so many of us. RIP”.

And Doves tweeted: “Goodbye Mark Hollis, we owe you so much, I can’t overstate the influence on us three as musicians and us as a band.”

Hollis was notorious for refusing to “play that game” as he put it, when it came to promoting records, which frequently put him at odds with the ideals of record labels.

Hollis released his debut and what was to become his only solo album – titled Mark Hollis – in 1998, which he refused to tour.

When asked about his failure to keep any kind of public profile, he replied: “I choose for my family. Maybe others are capable of doing it, but I can’t go on tour and be a good dad at the same time.”

An article about his published last year was titled ‘How to Disappear Completely: When Musicians Retire For Good’.