Mark Stewart, frontman of the iconic seventies band The Pop Group has died aged 62.
Record Label Mute have confirmed the sad news in a statement earlier this evening.
The statement on behalf of Mark’s bandmates read: “In honour of this original, fearless, sensitive, artistic and funny man, think for yourself and question everything
“The world was changed because of Mark Stewart, it will never be the same without him.”
The counterculture group was formed by Mark in 1972, alongside his friends John Waddington and Simon Underwood.
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Gareth Sager and Bruce Smith went on to complete the band’s line-up.
Gareth paid tribute to Mark by describing the frontman as the “most amazing mind of my generation”.
The group rose to fame as they made a mark by rejecting authority in their music and political themes.
Mark was inspired by the punk movement and credited The Clash as one of their biggest influences.
Mark previously said of the punk movement: “There is the arrogance of power and what we got from punk was the power of arrogance.”
The Pop Group announced their split in 1980, sharing the news with fans after performing at a rally for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Trafalgar Square.
Following the band’s split, Mark worked with Adrian Sherwood on solo music, performing as Mark Stewart & the Maffia.
Adrian and Mark were also part of the New Age Steppers collective together.
After hearing of his death, Adrian said Mark was “the biggest musical influence in my life and our extended family will miss you so so much”.
The Pop Group eventually reunited in 2010 for a live performance, before releasing a compilation and two more albums.
Mark’s final solo album before his death was entitled The Politics of Envy, and was released in 2012.
The cause of Mark’s death has not yet been confirmed.
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