UPDATE (26/02/19, 12.22pm): Mark Hollis’ longtime manager Keith Aspend has confirmed news of his death. "I’m still trying to accept this but sadly it’s true," Aspden said in a statement provided to Pitchfork. “Mark has died after a short illness from which he never recovered. Deeply felt sorrow for a remarkable person who remained true to himself throughout his life. 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."
Mark Hollis, frontman of Talk Talk, has died aged 64.
Hollis’ cousin-in-law Anthony Costello was amongst the first to break the news of his death, tweeting: "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."
Hollis had a number of hit singles in the 1980s as part of Talk Talk with tracks such as ‘It’s My Life’, ‘Today’ and ‘Life’s What You Make It’. The band also released a number of classic albums including 1988’s Sprit Of Eden and 1991’s Laughing Stock. Talk Talk disbanded in 1992.
He went on to release his first and only solo album, which was self-titled, in 1998 before retiring from touring and the music business a year later, and maintaining a low profile in the years since.
In an Instagram post, Talk Talk bassist Paul Webb paid tribute to Hollis, writing: "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."
