World Party frontman Karl Wallinger has died at the age of 66.
His publicist announced the news in a media alert, saying the Welsh musician was “ahead of his time”.
“Karl Wallinger, the Welsh-born musician and composer better known as the singular force behind World Party, died Sunday March 10,” it reportedly read.
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“Presciently ahead of his time with songs such as Ship Of Fools, Put The Message In The Box and Is It Like Today?, in addition to the magic of She’s The One and the Waterboys’ The Whole Of The Moon, Wallinger was 66.”
“Karl leaves behind a loving family including wife Suzie Zamit, son Louis Wallinger, daughter Nancy Zamit and two grandchildren. The family invites Karl’s friends and fans to share their thoughts on his Facebook page or Instagram.”
The media alert was also shared by Mike Scott, member of The Waterboys which Wallinger was once apart of.
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“Just received this. Travel on well my old friend. You are one of the finest musicians I’ve ever known,” Scott wrote on X.
No cause of death or place was given. He reportedly suffered an aneurysm in 2001 but soon recovered.
Wallinger was born in Wales in 1957. In the early days of his career he worked as a musical director of The Rocky Horror Show.
In 1983, he joined The Waterboys, before leaving the band and working with Sinead O’Connor.
He founded World Party in London 1986.
World Party became known for hits including Ship of Fools, Put the Message in the Box and All Come True.
He told Big Take Over about his love of music and that it was his “thing” from childhood.
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“Maybe a bang on the head or dropped in the bath or something, I don’t know! For better or worse, that’s what I’ve done my whole life, really. I mean, I was writing songs at nine years old,” he said.
He said that he had been “very lucky” with his music career.
“More and more, I just believe that songs are where it’s at,” he said.