Karl Wallinger photo courtesy USA Today
Welsh musician Karl Wallinger, the multi-instrumentalist and force behind the band World Party and also known as a mid-80’s member of Irish band The Waterboys, has passed away at the age of 66.
His publicist revealed that Wallinger passed on Sunday, March 10, with no cause of death announced, but it was not publicly revealed until day’s later.
The Waterboys and Mike Scott paid tribute on their website, saying, “Karl was an integral part of The Waterboys from 1983 to the end of 1985, and was one of the original touring line-up. He made many powerful contributions to the band during his membership, many of which are included and described in the recent 1985 box set and book.” Scott would also note on X / Twitter that Wallinger was “one of the finest musicians I’ve ever known” and to “Travel on well my old friend.”
Wallinger was born on 19 October 1957, in Prestatyn, Wales, interested in music early and particularly intrigued by the music of The Beatles. He trained classically on the piano from age nine, with his musicianship winning him a music scholarship to Charterhouse in Surrey.
Following school, he became the keyboard player for a group named Pax, then co-formed Quasimodo with two members who would eventually form The Alarm with Mike Peters.
Wallinger would move to London, becoming the musical director of The Rocky Horror Show and would answer a "guitarist wanted" ad to join The Waterboys, convincing Scott the band needed a keyboard player more, but was able to fill several roles as the band toured their first album and recorded the follow-up, A Pagan Place.
The succeeding album, This is The Sea, would prove a high watermark for The Waterboys, with Wallinger co-writing “Don’t Bang The Drum”, playing the then-unique synth bass on the album, and memorable synthesizers on their biggest hit, “The Whole of the Moon.”
Scott’s level of creative control forced Wallinger to leave the band in 1985, creating his own World Party, which blended Northern Soul and influences from US artists Sly Stone and Prince, Beatles-influenced melodies, and the storytelling of Van Morrison, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan.
In all, the band released five studio albums beginning with 1987’s Private Revolution, a live record and a couple compilations.
Darlings of college and alternative radio, single “Ship of Fools” reached No. 5 on Billboard’s mainstream rock chart in the U.S. in 1987 and “Way Down Now,” went to No. 1 on the Billboard alternative chart in the U.S. in 1990. “Is it Like Today” was their biggest U.K. hit, reaching No. 19 in 1993 and his song “She’s the One” became a 1999 No. 1 single for singer Robbie Williams.
In February 2001, Wallinger was discovered to have a brain aneurysm, which required major surgeries and years learning how to speak again and play instruments, amazingly returning to touring five years later, though never releasing another new album. Those royalties from “She’s The One” turned out to be well-timed, helping greatly with Wallinger’s medical and rehabilitation bills, during his years-long recovery.
Wallinger passed away at his home in Hastings, along England’s south coast and is survived by wife Suzie, son Louis, daughter Nancy, and two grandchildren.
| John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com |
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