Music Journalist Dele Fadele Has Died

The legendary NME writer passed away after a short illness some time ago. Photograph thanks to Neil Thomson

The very sad news has reached tQ that music writer and friend of the site Dele Fadele has died.

Although details are vague, it appears he passed away after a short illness in 2018 with news of his death spreading beyond his immediate family this week.

Dele made his name as an NME writer in the ’80s and ’90s, and was also a member of the electronic/alternative band Welfare Heroin. In more recent years, he penned memorable essays on Nick Cave, New Order, Osibisa, and Marianne Faithfull for tQ – you can read Dele’s work for The Quietus here.

We will always remember him as one of those gloriously larger than life figures who instantaneously makes you realise that it is sometimes the music writers and photographers who live much wilder lives than the media-managed stars they document.

He remains the only writer we’ve ever met who missed a copy deadline after waking up unexpectedly in Belgium. Rest well sir.

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