The bass player of the Britpop band pulp, Steve Mackey, died Thursday at the age of 56. This was announced by his wife Katie Grand and the band on Instagram. Pulp was one of the most important representatives of Britpop in the 1990s and is known for hits like “Common People” and “Disco 2000”.
The cause of death was not disclosed. “After three months in the hospital struggling with all his strength and determination, we are shocked and devastated to have to say goodbye to my brilliant, beautiful husband,” Grand wrote. Mackey is the most talented man she has known, “an extraordinary musician, producer, photographer and filmmaker”.
Born in Sheffield in 1966, the musician joined Pulp in 1989. He has appeared on many of the band’s studio albums, including 1994’s ‘His ‘n’ Hers’, which popularized the band with frontman Jarvis Cocker in the UK. After a nine-year break, the band was active again from 2011 to 2013.
Last year, Cocker confirmed the group’s reunion and said they would play “some concerts” in 2023, the PA news agency reported. Mackey, however, didn’t want to be there anymore, saying he wanted to focus on his music, film and photography projects. He also worked with many other artists, such as the band among others Florence + the Machine and the Canadian rock band Arcade Fire.
Mackey also photographed and directed campaign images. In the film “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” he appeared in 2005 as the band’s bassist The Weird Sisters on. Mackey leaves behind a grown son in addition to his wife.
