Hollis was the founder, lead singer and songwriter of Talk Talk
Reports are emerging that Mark Hollis, co-founder of the band Talk Talk, has died at the age of 64.
While no official confirmation has yet been released, the news has been reported via several media outlets and sources close to Hollis. Many are also already paying tribute to the influential musician on social media including the musician’s cousin, Anthony Costello, Paul Webb – his former band mate – and Tim Pope, who directed Talk Talk’s music videos.
The lead singer and primary songwriter of Talk Talk, Hollis co-founded the band in 1981 alongside drummer Lee Harris, bassist Paul Webb and keyboard player Simon Brenner. They had early synth-pop success with singles ‘Talk Talk’, ‘It’s My Life’ and ‘Such a Shame’ together with several critically-acclaimed albums, including ‘Spirit of Eden’ and ‘Laughing Stock.’
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After the band disbanded in 1991, Hollis released a well received, self-titled solo album in 1998 before retiring from the music industry. Speaking about his decision not to tour and to maintain a private lifestyle at the time, Hollis said: “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.”
Pope said on Twitter: “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/xzqfQnN4P6
— Tim Pope🎥 (@timpopedirector) February 25, 2019
His cousin-in-law tweeted: “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.” Later, he thanked what he described as a “lovely response” from Hollis’ “many fans” on social media.
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/eGRfLWHt6r— Anthony Costello (@globalhlthtwit) February 25, 2019
Talk Talk’s bassist Webb, aka Rustin Man, also paid tribute to his former band mate on Facebook, 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. He knew how to create a depth of feeling with sound and space like no other. He was one of the greats, if not the greatest.”
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…
Posted by Rustin Man (Official) on Monday, February 25, 2019
Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran said: “We, Duran Duran, are very sorry to learn that one of music’s great innovators Mark Hollis has died. The band Talk Talk, which he co-founded and fronted, were on tour with us in 1982; it made for a tremendous & very entertaining bill. Mark was the main songwriter of some truly great songs, including ‘It’s My Life’ & ‘It’s A Shame’.”
They continued: “In 1988 the extraordinary album ‘Spirit of Eden’ was released. His talent will be remembered & his music will live on.”
“Mark was the main songwriter of some truly great songs” @TalkTalk pic.twitter.com/beH4kGPcmA
— Duran Duran (@duranduran) February 25, 2019
You can read some of the many other tributes to Hollis from artists and fans below:
Talk Talk I Believe In You https://t.co/NZ2pRmNDkf Mark Hollis, one of my most favourite songs ever. The most enigmatic, elusive and brilliant songwriter, singer and musician. A huge loss 💙
— Wendy Smith (@wendyfinnandmax) February 25, 2019
I have just heard the heartbreaking news that #MarkHollis has died. Mark’s music has meant everything to me over my lifetime. RIP.
— Graham • Sutton (@GPSutton) February 25, 2019
Really saddened by the passing of Mark Hollis. Talk Talk were a brilliant band, a real one-off, and Hollis was a genuine artist
— Chris Deerin (@chrisdeerin) February 25, 2019
one of the most amazing writers of my generation. I was lucky enough to spend some time with him at our studios September Sound in the 90s when he was working on new music. This is incredible. https://t.co/PVAU1yk2CZ
— bella union (@bellaunion) February 25, 2019
Always liked this quote from Mark Hollis:
“Before you play two notes, learn how to play one note, y’know?
And don’t play one note unless you’ve got a reason to play it.”
You can definitely hear in his music that he lived by those words. pic.twitter.com/pWVFQJjlBH— DänielNöthing (@DanielNothing) February 25, 2019
Big love and Godspeed Mark Hollis pic.twitter.com/bVIXIC3sBd
— JAGJAGUWAR (@jagjaguwar) February 25, 2019
Mark Hollis was a spirit whisperer and keeper of a secret garden. pic.twitter.com/OCBXisldzl
— JAGJAGUWAR (@jagjaguwar) 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
Even though he’d been near silent for 20 years, #MarkHollis dying is a devastating loss. I did pretty much his last interview, and I genuinely believe music meant so much to him, it was painful to pace it in the public glare. RIP. I Believe In You.
— Rob Young (@polyalbion) February 25, 2019
Mark Hollis & Talk Talk created a completely unique British Spiritual Music. RIPhttps://t.co/SZUAj67wCA
— Richard King (@richard_king) February 25, 2019
Beautiful record, https://t.co/4c5asVTpZN
— ed simons (@eddychemical) February 25, 2019
Sad news about Mark Hollis. So much beautiful music https://t.co/5I8s98RI6F
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) February 25, 2019
Really sorry to hear of the death of Mark Hollis. His music was rich and deep, and a huge influence on my development as a musician.
— David Rowntree (@DaveRowntree) February 25, 2019
Very sad to hear that Mark Hollis has died. You might have experienced the wonder of those final three Talk Talk albums but his 1998 solo album is just as beautiful and has been an endless source of musical and conceptual inspiration to us.
— Field Music (@fieldmusicmusic) February 25, 2019
Guy Garvey on the enduring influence of Talk Talk: “Mark Hollis started from punk and by his own admission he had no musical ability. To go from only having the urge, to writing some of the most timeless, intricate and original music ever is as impressive as the moon landings.” pic.twitter.com/RkouF9iyWk
— Jason Cowley (@JasonCowleyNS) February 25, 2019
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
RIP Mark Hollis. Talk Talk has been an ever-present shadow on the new album and it seems so poignant to hear this news on the eve of mastering. His voice was a thing of distinct fragile beauty and I think we won’t hear his like again anytime soon. 💔 https://t.co/37Aswhq49j
— The Anchoress (@The_Anchoress) February 25, 2019
RIP Mark Hollis. Talk Talk’s trajectory from apparent Duran Duran wannabes to the aqueous extremism of Laughing Stock is unparalleled. A voyage away from the centre. A sad loss but what a legacy.
— David Stubbs (@sendvictorious) February 25, 2019
Very sad to hear that Mark Hollis has died. You might have experienced the wonder of those final three Talk Talk albums but his 1998 solo album is just as beautiful and has been an endless source of musical and conceptual inspiration to us.
— Field Music (@fieldmusicmusic) February 25, 2019
There are two ways to depart perfectly. There’s the Bowie way. Say goodbye with an astonishing record, the extent of whose significance only your passing reveals… (1/2)
— Pete Paphides (@petepaphides) February 25, 2019
The other way is to stop when you’ve achieved everything you set out to do, never again reappearing. No interviews. No reunions. No explanations. No lap of honour. No further communication. Nothing. The way Mark Hollis did it. (2/2)
— Pete Paphides (@petepaphides) February 25, 2019
Mark Hollis captured so many of us with his haunting approach to song and the compelling ways he presented simplistic mountains of sound. He was an educator of emotion and a voice for the blood throat shadows of tomorrow. This is a loss amongst many.
— Broken Social Scene (@bssmusic) February 25, 2019
Sad to hear that Mark Hollis has passedhttps://t.co/348JSojg2U
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) February 25, 2019
Mark Hollis changed my life. Thank you for everything
— Chris Baio (@OIAB) February 25, 2019
Hollis initially formed a band called The Reaction, but the band soon disbanded after their debut single was unsuccessful. Forming Talk Talk shortly after, the band quickly achieved a recording deal with EMI.
The band began at first as part of the popular synth-pop movement of the 80s but garnered more art-house influences as they experimented and improvised with a range of diverse styles and instrumentation.
Speaking about their seminal album, ‘Spirit of Eden’, Hollis told Rock’s Back Pages: “It’s certainly a reaction to the music that’s around at the moment ‘cos most of that is shit. It’s only radical in the modern context. It’s not radical compared to what was happening 20 years ago. If we’d have delivered this album to the record company 20 years ago they wouldn’t have batted an eyelid.”
Discussing the enduring influence of Hollis, Elbow’s Guy Garvey told Mojo in 2012: “Mark Hollis started from punk and by his own admission he had no musical ability. To go from only having the urge, to writing some of the most timeless, intricate and original music ever is as impressive as the moon landings.”
NME has contacted representatives of Mark Hollis for further comment.
This is a developing news story…
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