Mark Hollis, the brilliant singer/songwriter and founder of Talk Talk has died. Multiple sites in the U.K. are reporting Hollis' death, however an official statement has not been issued. The (apparently) official Talk Talk/Mark Hollis Facebook page seemed to confirm the news by posting a screenshot of a family member's tweet. Hollis was 64 years old.
Hollis was a musical genius and created an exceptional body of work. He was so talented -- not only did he create perfect pop gems found on Talk Talk's early records, but he was able to successfully transition from pop into crafting stunning experimental works. His music was timeless, beautiful, exquisite, and divine. An extraordinary iconic musician who gave so much to the world of music. We are all incredibly lucky to have been the beneficiaries of his majestic talent.
Truly heartbreaking news.
R.I.P.
UPDATE: Hollis' manager Keith Aspden confirmed to the BBC that Hollis died "after a short illness from which he never recovered."
Talk Talk's bassist Paul Webb posted the following statement in tribute to Hollis:
"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."
Published February 25th, 2019
