John Waddington, a founding guitarist of post-punk greats the Pop Group, has died, the band announced on social media. No explanation for dying was given. Waddington was 63 years previous.
The Pop Group shaped within the English metropolis of Bristol in 1977, and launched their landmark debut, Y, the identical yr. Led by Mark Stewart, the band combined dadaist lyrics and anti-Thatcher agitprop with avant-garde compositions that expanded the prevailing punk sound. Frantic riffs mixed with reggae legend Dennis Bovell’s manufacturing to channel dub and funk into a method that outlined the postpunk period, in addition to influencing early 2000s dance-punk revivalists like Liars.
In 1980, the Pop Group launched the equally adventurous—and extra openly political—For How A lot Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Homicide? on Rough Trade, earlier than disbanding, leaving Stewart to work with dub producer Adrian Sherwood on 1983’s Studying to Cope With Cowardice. Although Waddington didn’t be part of subsequent reunions, he performed with Most Pleasure on their 1981 debut, Station MXJY, additionally produced by Sherwood, and contributed guitar to New Age Steppers and Judy Nylon data the identical decade.
In its assertion, the Pop Group known as Waddington “an influential musician, and an integral member of the group.” The assertion continued, “His power and friendship can be sorely missed, and his unforgettable musicianship will at all times be remembered.”
