Mark Hollis Talk Talk Frontman Dies Aged 64

Mark Hollis, frontman with 1980s rock band Talk Talk, has passed away at the age of 64. His former manager with the band Keith Aspden confirmed the news with the BBC Today.

His manager said, “Mark has died after a short illness from which he never recovered.” Talk Talk gained chart success in the ’80s with hits including, “Life’s What You Make it,”  “It’s My Life,” “Today,” as well as “Such a Shame.”

The band split in 1991 and Hollis went on to release a solo record in 1998 but then left music completely and took himself out of the public eye focusing on his family instead.

Paul Webb, bass player with the band honoured Hollis on Instagram:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

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. He knew how to create depth of feeling with sound and space like no other. He was one of the greats, if not the greatest. . . . . #markhollis #talktalk

A post shared by rustin man Official (@rustinmanofficial) on Feb 25, 2019 at 12:17pm PST

News of Hollis’ death inspired tributes from the music world, many of whom came to be heavily influenced by the New Romantic sound of Talk Talk.

Goodbye Mark Hollis,We owe you so much ,I cant overstate the influence on us three as musicians and us as a band.#markhollis #talktalk

— Doves (@dovesmusicblog) February 25, 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/IoTuAkGCUf

— THE THE (@thethe) February 25, 2019

"Mark was the main songwriter of some truly great songs” @TalkTalk pic.twitter.com/beH4kGPcmA

— Duran Duran (@duranduran) February 25, 2019

Trying to find the words to express my sadness about the passing of #MarkHollis #TalkTalk
Hearing Spirit Of Eden blew my 18 year old mind to such a degree I set out to try and learn how on earth they had created this transcendent masterpiece. That search turned into a career.

— Paul Epworth (@paulepworth) February 25, 2019

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