The Pop Group’s Mark Stewart dies

completemusicupdate.com:

Mark Stewart, frontman of post-punk band The Pop Group, has died, aged 62. The news was shared by his record label Mute on Friday.In a statement, Mute boss Daniel Miller said: “I’ve known Mark as a friend and a fellow traveller for over 40 years, since he was the lead singer of The Pop Group.

I have so many wonderful memories of him – some bizarre, some outrageous, but always inspiring and somehow for a reason”.“His musical influence has been much greater than is often acknowledged”, he continued. “He was always encouraging young artists, especially those local to him in Bristol – many have gone on to become global stars”.“His warmth and kindness as a friend has always been something very important to me.

We had so many laughs together, and he had so much creative energy”.“The last time I saw Mark was a few months ago in Bristol, performing an improvised set with Lee Ranaldo.

He was nothing but hilarious, his piece was basically a stand-up routine, and after the show we spent many hours putting the world to rights, it’s a wonderful memory, I will miss him greatly”.He concluded: “Mark, I can’t imagine you being anything other than restless but I hope you find your very special peace”.Born in 1960, Stewart founded The Pop Group in 1977 with guitarist John Waddington, bassist Simon Underwood, guitarist/saxophonist Gareth Sager and drummer Bruce Smith.They released their debut album ‘Y’ two years later, and the follow-up ‘For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?’ in 1980 before disbanding in 1981.The band’s final performance was at a rally for the Campaign For Nuclear Disarmament in 1980, and Stewart continued to work with the campaign after the band’s split.