Pop In The Real World Obituaries 2025

For all the joy and excitement that comes from a New Year, it's also a time to remember those we lost. What follows is a personal selection to commemorate some of those who died in 2025. Some may be travelling the Highway to Hell. Others are, hopefully Knocking On Heaven's Door. All contributed memories to treasure and experiences to value.

The list starts with a foray through pop, soul and rock before celebrating a trio of great drummers. It turned out to be a bit of a Spinal Tap year for them, so they get their own section. Each year we lose a handful of truly legendary performers, touched by genius and never, truly. To be replaced. The list closes with a nod to those who made their mark in other cultural fields but, in doing so, contributed in some way to shaping the music we love.

A playlist of songs from all these artists, and others who left us during the year is Pop In The Real World Obituaries 2025 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2zTRTjZke6iAtqg1X7imt5?si=5ab09e092f8344a5

Time to take what Wreckless Eric describes as 'The Final Taxi'.

Pop

Dave Ball, Dave Cousins, Rick Davies, Stephen Luscombe, Wayne Osmond

Wayne Osmond died of a stroke on New Year's Day and it's a bit of a shock when a teeny bopper passes away. In our memories they are forever young. It's easy to mock The Osmonds as music for pre-teens, but 'The Proud One' and 'Love Me for A Reason' were classic chart songs of their time. In 'Crazy Horses' they revealed a harder, more socially aware side long before climate change and the environment became a mainstream thing. It's Wayne who plays the guitar on Crazy Horses, and he came up with the riff that made the song. - it's as teeny bopper as Alice Cooper's 'School's Out'.

Like The Osmonds, Supertramp were never the coolest of bands but for many, including myself, they are one of the 70s greatest guilty pleasures. That's due to their wonderful melodies, many of which were written by Rick Davies. Davies co-founded the band with Roger Hodgson. It was a case, initially, of opposites attract but the working class Davies and the public school educated Hodgson made for a great songwriting team. Unfortunately, it didn't last forever and songwriting responsibilities were eventually split down the middle to the extent that they had an equal contribution credited on each album. Davies co-wrote 'Give A Little Bit', and wrote the wonderful singalong symphony of 'From Now On' and the under rated classic from 'Breakfast in America', 'Gone Hollywood amongst many others.

Supertamp's electronic sound on songs like 'Dreamer' may have influenced later synth pop artists. Blancmange's Stephen Luscombe had been ill for some time when his death was announced on 13th September. Blanchmange were synthpop pioneers who seemed to have a more experimental bent but nonetheless produced some catchy and accessible pop songs. 'Living On The Ceiling' was their most successful single, and the album 'Happy Families' was their breakthrough. They also charted a successful cover version of Abba's 'The Day Before You Came' . Luscombe was also associated with the Portsmouth Sinfonia Orchestra, made up of people who could not play an instrument but weren't going to let that stop them giving it a go. You could say that the same applied to early synthpop acts!

The death of Dave Ball - the one in Soft Cell with a lower profile - came as a shock. I'd just finished reading 'The Strange Worlds of Soft Cell', Patrick Clarke's study of their first period of success. It makes it clear whilst Marc Almond was a performer par excellence, Dave Ball was the inspiration behind the music. You can hear what made them special in their 12" extended mixes which were frequently better than the 7" version released for radio play. It's a source of some regret that 'Tainted Love' was so ridiculously successful because it overwhelmed everything else they did, which tended to be darker and more experimental. (It also meant that they earned very little from the hit as it was a cover!). After Soft Cell wound up their first period, Ball turned to dance music and production. In that guise, his most successful venture was with The Grid, whose best known song was 'Swamp Thing'.

The Strawbs' Dave Cousins succumbed to cancer on 13th July. The Strawbs were a well respected folk rock group, but are reviewed by many as a one hit wonder for their 1974 hit 'Part of the Union'. Written at a time of intense disruptive Union activity it was, on the face of it anti union, but was gleefully adopted by many as a Union anthem. It was rumoured at the time that Government intervention prevented the song reaching No 1, as it stalled at No 2. We'll never know!

Jimmy Cliff was one of the biggest reggae stars of the late sixties and seventies, thanks in no small measure to his appearance in the film and on the soundtrack of 'The Harder They Come'. That was gritty, but he had a softer side ably demonstrated by 'Wonderful World, Beautiful People'. His most famous song was 'Many Rivers To Cross', notably covered by UB40. It's about the trials of making it in the record business, but it has a spiritual feel that makes it a hymn for our times.

With the perennial Christmas favourite 'Driving Home For Christmas' once again in the charts, it was a sadly appropriate time to lose Chris Rea. It wasn't his only driving song - 'Road To Hell' is about travelling on the M25. In later years he returned to his blues roots, but his most successful songs had an AOR / MOR flavour. 'Fool (If You Think It's Over)' is one much covered example. Another is 'Josephine', which became a surprise Balearic hit when it was extended for release in France. In the final analysis, he may not rank with the absolute greats, but he will have brought happiness to millions. Not many of us can claim that.

Deaths in the run up to Christmas have an added poignancy. Raul Malo of The Mavericks had advance colon cancer when he was hospitalised on December 4,, the day before the first of two nights of tribute shows, to be held in his honor in Nashville. The shows went ahead although Raul couldn't attend but on December 6, his Mavericks bandmates were able to visit him in the hospital, giving him one final "concert," before he died on December 8th. The Mavericks were primarily a country band but, in 'Dance The Night Away' they wrote a catchy, guaranteed floor filler at weddings and multi generational parties. They also recorded a very good Christmas album 'Hey! Merry Christmas' in 2018.

A sixties icon, Marianne Faithful, was a singer and an actress with a rebellious reputation. For a while she was also known for being part of The Rolling Stones' inner circle. She was at Keith Richard's house, Redlands, when there was an infamous drugs bust, wearing nothing but an animal rug. It was the Rolling Stones too that provided her first hit single 'As Time Goes By'. She was also a successful actress in movies such as 'Girl on a Motorcycle' and 'Hamlet (as Ophelia). She was the first person to to say "fuck" in a mainstream studio picture when she appeared in 'I'll Never Forget What's 'is Name'.

Chris Rea, Jimmy Cliff. Marianne Faithful, Raul Malo

Soul

Gwen Macrae, Roberta Flack, Sam Moore, Steve Cropper

Roberta Flack was one of the most soulful singers of the 70s, or any era. She's famous for two excellent songs in particular, 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' and 'Killing Me Softly With His Song'. They are deeply romantic soulful pop, the kind of songs that anyone would like sung to, for or about them. Flack's version of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' was originally played during a romantic encounter between Donna Mills and Clint Eastwood in the film 'Play Misty For Me'.

Gwen McRae may not be the best known name of the 70's soul and disco scene, but her reputation in those circles was high for many years. She was known as the Queen of Rare Groove. 'Rockin' Chair' was her first song to make an impression on the charts. She was, perhaps, a little unlucky in her 'Sliding Doors' moment. The song 'Rock Your Baby' was written for her, but was recorded and released by her husband, George. It gave him a sustained chart career in the 70s and 80s. A minor claim to fame is that she was the first person to release a version of 'Always On My Mind' in March 1972. I bet Elvis and the Pet Shop Boys were grateful for that!

If Flack, MaCrae and the chart friendly sounds of Tamla Motown had a pop sweetness, Stax provided an earthier, more soulful brand of pop. Sam Moore was one half of Stax legends Sam and Dave. Their songs 'Soul Man' and 'Hold On I'm Coming' helped to define the Stax sound.

In 1996 Mojo magazine named Steve Cropper as the second greatest guitarist of all time for his work in Booker T and the MGs, The Blues Brothers and a whole roster of classic Stax artists. He didn't seek the limelight, telling Guitar.com in 2021 ""I get off on the fact that I can play something over and over and over, while other guitar players don't want to even know about that. They won't even play the same riff or the same lick twice." It's hard to think of many or any guitariist who has had a bigger impact on the sound of sixties and seventies music. He played on and co-wrote Otis Redding's '(Sitting On The) Dock of the Bay'. He starred on screen as a member of The Blues Brothers. And if you're too young to remember the music, you may have heard his guitar on the BBC Cricket theme tune 'Soul Limbo'.

Rock

Brian James, David Johansen, David Thomas, Mani

Guitarist Brian James founded The Damned and wrote their first album 'Damned, Damned, Damned' - the first full length album released by a punk band. They also released the first home grown punk single 'New Rose'. James himself defied the primitive, DIY ethos of punk by being an excellent guitarist who earned the praise of Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, the kind of rock aristocrat the punks wanted to overthrow.

Another early influence on punk was David Johansen and the New York Dolls. Johansen died at the end of February. The New York Dolls appeared on the BBC TV's live music programme The Old Grey Whistle Test, when presenter "Whispering Bob" Harris notoriously derided the band on air as "mock rock". Judge for yourself with songs such as 'Jet Boy'.

I've always thought that, whilst the Stone Roses could be heavily self-indulgent, when they were good, they were brilliant. Mani was the bass mainstay of the band. Listen to their songs and hear how important he was to their sound, especially on the wonderful 'Love Spreads'. As if one legendary band isn't enough, when the Roses split he joined Primal Scream. That's like Man City's Erling Haaland joining Arsenal in the January transfer window!. His Primal Scream debut was on 'Vanishing Point' a record where the bass is ear drum tinglingly numbing. It's impossible to imagine that album without him.

David Thomas founded Pere Ubu back in 1975, describing them as 'avant-garage' although he later admitted that he only coined that term to give journalists a label to attach to a band they couldn't understand otherwise. He always regarded Pere Ubu as a rock band. Never commercially successful, they were nevertheless immensely influential on both punk and post punk. The rock critic Greil Marcus once described his voice saying ""Mr Thomas's voice is that of a man muttering in a crowd. You think he's talking to himself until you realize he's talking to you."

More jagged, for many the Gang Of Four were the ultimate post punk band. Their original bass guitarist was Dave Allen. It's impossible to hear 'Damaged Goods' or 'I Love A Man In Uniform' and not experience a surge of joyful energy.

Danny Thompson was a folk bassist with Pentangle and a hell raiser everywhere else.. His playing has been described as sublime. He added gravitas to the likes of Cliff Richard, Johnny Hates Jazz, Rod Stewart, T-Rex, ABC, Everything But the Girl, Graham Coxon, the The, David Sylvian, Kate Bush and Talk Talk. He also became a close friend of John Martyn and played on many of his greatest albums. He was such a big influence on Martyn that Martyn began to adopt his cockney mannerisms. It was a stormy relationship , fuelled by ridiculous amounts of alcohol. After one gig. Martyn nailed a carpet over a very drunk Thompson. I'm sure they worked it out afterwards.

Mike Peters, founding member of Welsh arena rockers The Alarm, has died following 30 years battling cancer in one form or another. The Alarm were an exciting live act and became the go to support for some of rock's biggest names, including Bob Dylan and U2. In 2004, in his forties and as a humorous stunt aimed at the music industry and its obsession with youth, Peters released a single called 45 RPM - a retro-punk song - under the pseudonym of The Poppy Fields.He pretended his group were teenagers from Chester, who mimed along to the video for the song. It entered the top 30. More importantly, Peters worked ceaselessly to improve cancer care and received an MBE for his efforts in 2019.

Perhaps the most unexpected legacy is left by Dave Arbus who was a founding member of Fiddler's Dram. He left before they achieved fame with a lovely time on a trip to Bangor but earned his own footnote in rock history for playing the violin solo on The Who's classic 'Baba O'Riley'.

Danny Thompson, Dave Allen, Dave Arbus, Mike Peters

Drummers

Clem Burke, Gilson Lavis, Rick Buckler, Viv Prince

Blondie's drummer, Clem Burke, was one of my favourite drummers. He knew how to make a good song great. You only have to listen to the varying drum rolls he brings, via programming into a drum machine, into the end of 'Heart Of Glass' to hear that. He played on every one of Blondie's albums and was a touring member or session musician for the likes of The Ramones, Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan and Eurythmics. Before joining Blondie he had previously auditioned for Patti Smith, for the band that would end up recording her debut album Horses. He expained why he didn't get the job. "She asked me who my favourite drummer was … I said John Bonham, and I think that might've been the wrong answer."

When a band you loved in your teenage years loses a member, it hurts. The Jam were unique, with every member contributing perfectly to their sound. Rick Buckler on drums was an unmatchable presence. His recreation of the sound of an approaching tube train filled with menace in live versions of 'Down In The Tube Station At Midnight' is one of the finest examples of live drumming ever.

Alongside Blondie's Clem Burke, Squeeze's Gilson Lavis was my favourite new wave drummer. The focus on Squeeze is usually on Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook's songwriting or, perhaps, Jools Holland's piano. Gilson's drumming was also a massive component of their sound. 'Take Me I'm Yours' and 'F Hole' (from the album 'East Side Story') demonstrate this. He left Squeeze when Jools Holland set up Jools Holland's Big Band. The name began as a joke as they were a duo. He remained with Holland as it morphed into his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and he became a big favourite on stage and in Jools' Hootenany.

Viv Prince drummed for The Pretty Things at the time of their breakthrough in 1964. He quickly became a wild man of rock and is credited, if that's the right word, with being an influence on Keith Moon's drumming and behaviour. He didn't ease up after being thrown out of the band in 1965 for being unreliable and erratic. For example, he was reported to be expelled from the members of Hell's Angels for bad behaviour. David Bowie was a fan. He covered two of their tracks - 'Rosalyn' and 'Don't Bring Me Down' - on his Pin Ups album.

Geniuses

Perhaps this is the category most up for discussion.

Bill Fay, Brian Wilson, Ozzy Osbourne, Sly Stone

The death of Bill Fay on 22nd February was sad news indeed, not because of his age - he was 81 - but because his 2012 comeback album 'Life Is People' is simultaneously so sad and uplifting. It contains both 'The Healing Day' and 'The Never Ending Happening.', two of the loveliest songs of the 21st Century. He started as a folk pop singer, releasing his self-titled debut in 1970. It sold quietly, his follow up in 1971 bombed and nothing more was heard until 'Life Is People'. He comes across as a humble man in the very best ways. Of his 50 year absence from musical recognition, he says "I didn't leave the music business – the music business left me." He's gathered many big name fans over the years but asked if he's proud of his music he says : "I don't know about pride, I'm just …… thankful." He's needed now more than ever.

There's no disputing that Brian Wilson is one of the very few true pop geniuses. With him at their helm, the Beach Boys were the only act to rival the Beatles for pushing the boundaries of pop in the mid 60s. Wilson was their driving creative force. Yes, it all went a bit weird but he also wrote some of the most sublime and timeless pop ever. 'Don't Worry Baby is one of those songs. Regarding their album 'Pet Sounds'. Music critic Jeff Straton commented "It's been said that, although hardly anyone bought the Velvet Underground's records, those who did ended up being inspired to start their own bands. In the case of the Beach Boys' 1966 opus Pet Sounds, it's likely that each of its 13 songs inspired its own subset of pop offspring" Even Paul McCartney is believed to have said that the Beatles ripped off the album for 'Sgt Pepper'. Side 2 opens with 'God Only Knows', a credible candidate for the award of Greatest Song Ever Written. Incredibly, the album was not a critical or commercial success in America. That was one of the things that pushed Wilson over the edge. As a result, what many believe to be his masterpiece - 'Smile' - remained unfinished for many years. It contains 'Heroes and Villain' - the perfect Beach Boys blend of pop and art.

Sly Stone was a maverick split personality who changed the face of black music. He started out with buoyant, feel good songs including 'Dance To The Music' and 'Everyday People' calling for love and unity within and across communities. His work became darker as the 70s dawned and songs such as 'Family Affair' dominated. Most people will have heard some of his music, but, if you haven't, think early Hot Chocolate on steroids.

Like him or loathe him, there's no denying that Ozzy Osbourne was a true rock star, if seemingly out of control more often than not.. As the singer of Black Sabbath, he lived a dark rock and roll lifestyle to the full, helping to embed heavy metal as the genre of choice for millions. So many classics feature his tormented wail,including 'Paranoid', 'Iron Man' and 'A Hard Road'. Perversely, he was almost a National Treasure by the end of his life. His death had the feeling of a Bowie moment, with his final appearance with Black Sabbath just a couple of weeks before he died echoing Bowie's release of 'Black Star' in the days leading up to his death. You can't help but feel glad that he was able to leave us after one last hurrah. The UK's bat and pigeon populations sleep more easily now.

Contributors

Alan Yentob, David Lynch, Lalo Schifrin, Michael Longley, Sylvia Young

David Lynch wasn't a musician but music was an important part of the films and TV programmes he made. The psychological horror of Blue Velvet was off-set by the completely different tone of the song of the same name. Commissioning Angelo Badalamenti to write the music for Twin Peaks helped to define the tone of that programme as well.

Irish poet Michael Longley died on the 22nd of January. Many of the best poems are lyrical; many of the best lyrics are poetic. Longley though, is one of the few poets to have had an album made of his poems, set to music by Duke Special for his album 'Hallow'. It's a good way of accessing his poems if you're usually wary of poetry. 'Ice Cream Man' is well worth a listen.

In his role as Head of Music and Arts at the BBC (and before and after) Alan Yentob helped to make sure that pop was part of the conversation when the Arts were discussed. Two examples were his interview with the Pet Shop Boys last year, and with David Bowie at the height of his fame and personal struggles in 1975.

The film composer Lalo Schifrin died, aged 93 on 26th June. He wrote the unforgettable theme tune for 'Mission : Impossible'. Not only does the 5/4 time signature make the composition unique, the meter (dash dash, dot dot) is Morse Code for the letters M and I.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences paid tribute to him saying "We'll forever remember the composer who turned every beat into a thrill, and every silence into suspense."

Sylvia Young set up the Sylvia Young Theatre School which nurtured young talent for TV, stage, film and music. Amy Winehouse was her most famous musical graduate. Contrary to legend Young did not expel her, although she did find her to be "very naughty'. She did, however, expel her own daughter for bad behaviour. Her school was co-ed, but its legacy may be to have produced a cadre of strong independent women for the Arts. Young told The Guardian "We produce girls with bottle. We develop confidence."

And that's it. Except to say, in respect of all these artists and contributors, thanks for all the music and all the memories. Let's hope that 2026's Obituaries blog is much shorter.