Tim Smith, the charismatic leader of the influential British rock band Cardiacs, died at the age of 59.
The cult group was formed in 1977 and has been cited as an influence by people like Blur and Radiohead.
They amassed a dedicated fan base in the 1980s, but had been on hiatus since 2008, when Smith suffered brain damage after a heart attack and two strokes.
Smith’s brother and bandmate Jim wrote on his website Wednesday that he “died suddenly last night.”
Two years ago, the band revealed that the singer had developed the rare dystonia of the neurological disorder, which impaired his ability to speak and caused muscle spasms.
Cardiacs, originally known as Cardiac Arrest, fused punk rock with more melodious pop art, thrash metal, prog, and psychedelia.
When the Surrey-born Smith brothers formed the band, Tim originally took over guitar and vocal support, before a staff change saw him promoted to leader.
‘Magical’ interpreter
They released eight albums and would also inspire bands like Napalm Death and Faith No More.
In 2011, Blur frontman Damon Albarn told Louder Than War: “The heartbeats were an early inspiration for all of us at Blur. I remember one of their concerts at ULU. It was amazing, one of the most magical live performances. I’ve ever seen. “
Writing in The Guardian in 2015, journalist Pete Cashmore described them as “uncategorizable: a band that could be charming one moment and inaudible the next. But they inspire fierce devotion.”
On Wednesday, Mary Wren, who ran the Cardiacs record label, wrote: “His fans loved him. He changed people for the better. He saved lives.
“His music was a haven for the needy and he never closed his door or rejected anyone. I feel like church bells across the country should ring his name.”
In 2018, Smith discussed his health issues with The Quietus. He compared his condition to “wearing a tight jumpsuit made of tights around you with electrical pulses running all the time.”
He said, “This is what my body feels like unless I fall asleep. I have called this my digital pain, and hitting my head or something that hurts a lot or any kind of normal pain, like toothache, I call it analog. Also, I can’t write or hold a pen or use a computer. “
Smith took a break from Cardiacs in the 1990s to work on other music projects, including Sea Nymphs and Spratleys’ Japs, and then worked as a producer, video director, and record label boss.
After his poor health, events known as The Alphabet Business Conventions were held to raise funds for his recovery.
In reaction to his death on Wednesday, pop critic Simon Price described Smith as “a charming man.”
“Unbelievably sad to hear of the passing of Tim Smith from Cardiacs,” added author Rhodri Marsden.
“A unique musical mind, a wonderful man. What a … day. But it will always be the dazzling light at the center of a great musical family.”
Television journalist Matthew Wright described his death as “a sad day for music.”
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