Mick Karn Artist Musician With The Band Japan Dies At 52

Mick Karn

Tributes are pouring in for the Sculptor/Musician Mick Karn who died yesterday after a long battle with lung cancer.

Karn was born in Cyprus and came to England with his family when he was five years old, growing up in Lewisham, South London. Karn came to prominence with his 1980’s band Japan, which he founded at age 16 with friend David Sylvian. After their most commercially successful period beckoned, they split up. Karn’s distinctive bass playing (heavy with a Far Eastern ‘feel’) was an integral part of Japan’s success and cannot be understated.

Mick Karn developed it during the 80’s, releasing three albums: 1982’s Titles, 1987’s “Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters” and a collaboration with Peter Murphy in 1984. Karn’s bass playing was much in demand for session work. He can be found on albums by Bill Nelson, Kate Bush, Midge Ure, Joan Armatrading and Gary Numan. He devoted much of his later life to Jazz and Sculpture, John Russell-Taylor Art critic for The Times wrote of his work, “Whether you like them or not, they are decidedly there. Mick Karn is an original and his sculpture is accomplished,”

 

 

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