The Waterboys and World Party star Karl Wallinger dies aged 66 as bandmate pays tribute

Karl Wallinger, member of neo-psychedelic band World Party and folk-rockers The Waterboys has passed away aged 66, the muscian’s publicist confirmed

Karl Wallinger, who starred in The Waterboys and then World Party, has died aged 66

Karl Wallinger, who starred in The Waterboys and then World Party, has died aged 66.

Musician Wallinger died on Sunday, according to his publicist. The Welsh-born frontman formed World Party in 1986, shortly after his departure from The Waterboys, recording the group’s debut album Private Revolution spawning popular songs including Ship Of Fools.

The band released several more albums, with their fourth Egyptology album including track She’s The One which was later covered by British singer Robbie Williams and peaked at number one on the official UK charts in 1999. Wallinger suffered a brain aneurysm in 2001, pausing his career for several years.

In 2006, World Party returned to music toured extensively until 2015. Wallinger later shared in a 2022 interview that the band had reformed and getting ready to tour again.

Wallinger suffered a brain aneurysm in 2001

World Party didn’t release any new music in the years following Wallinger’s recover but the musician promised new material in 2022. Waterboys leader Mike Scott paid tribute to Wallinger on Monday, calling him “one of the finest musicians” ever.

Sharing the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote: “Travel on well my old friend. You are one of the finest musicians I’ve ever known.” Curt Smith from pop band Tears For Fears also paid tribute, writing on X: “Very sad news, I was a big fan of Karl’s.”

Singer Chesney Hawkes said: “We lost one of the all time greats today. Karl Wallinger was a beautiful soul and a genius songwriter. Rest in peace old friend, I hope you find the rainbow…Now stop what you’re doing and go listen to #Worldparty.” Wallinger is survived by his wife Suzie Zamit, two children and and two grandchildren.

Wallinger was born in Wales in 1957 and began his career as a keyboardist with several bands and was briefly the musical director for The Rocky Horror Picture Show in London. He joined Waterboys in 1983 and played several instruments for the band’s first three albums before leaving after the tour in support of the 1985 album This Is The Sea.

As well as forming World Party he also contributed to label mate Sinead O’Connor’s debut album The Lion and the Cobra. O’Connor sang backing vocals on the first two of World Party albums.

The multi-instrumentalist was the musical director for 1994 film “Reality Bites,” which starred Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder. He also contributed to the Clueless soundtrack a year later. Wallinger contributed to the Peter Gabriel-helmed Big Blue Ball album, which was recorded in the 1990s and was released years later in 2008.

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