Mark Hollis dies aged 64

The only musician I have actually shed a tear upon hearing the news of his death, even now 1 year on makes me cry when I listen to his music and voice

Like Mark, I was born in Tottenham and as far back as I can remember my family have supported Tottenham Hotspur (I even married a THFC supporter!!)
Mark’s voice was wonderful and like no other, the music and lyrics of Talk Talk’s music was haunting and everlasting.
May you rest in peace dear man…………

Karen Brooks, Norfolk.

I’m still not sure I’ve processed it. It’s a shame Mark basically stopped making music and seemed to veto almost any reissue projects (Steven Wilson wanted to do surround mixes!) but we can at least appreciate what he did produce and release. And those records, especially the middle three Talk Talk albums, will stand up as great art for many, many decades. Mark was a great singer, a great songwriter, and somebody who had ‘ideas’ that went beyond just simply pop music. RIP :(

Very sad to learn. For me always adored his voice. Loved his music…. I mean what is there not to love about the Colour of Spring. On a winter which seems to last a lifetime and ironic that spring is taking time to arrive… this genius leaves us.
One of the best from the UK and still ahead of their time. Talk Talk.

R.I.P. Mark Hollis you shall be missed but lucky for us… we have your music to cherish forever

Tino

The consideration shown in each comment for Mark Hollis and his family, the knowledge of Talk Talk and the deep sense of connection to Talk Talk and Mark’s music helps me realise that my sense of loss, whilst miniscule in significance when compared to that of his family and close friends, is shared by others.

A mate of mine once said, you don’t choose your music, your music chooses you.

I first heard the single Talk Talk in 1982. Fresh and vibrant and pop and fun. I loved it. I picked up The Party’s Over, their first LP, and then I got It’s My Life for 50p. I continued to enjoy them through their third album. All their singles output remained listenable and contemporary, good pop fun.

Then, in the early 90’s I was on a Virgin long-haul flight. In the audio option there was one of those “tracks chosen by the crew” compilations. That was where I first heard I Believe in You. On that flight I listened more than once to it, many times. For goodness sake it blew my mind. Here am I listening to one of my favourite pop bands playing music that would fit well beside anything created by Miles Davis, The Blue Nile and Eno. Singing lyrics that capture and echo feelings explored by Jackie Leven and Will Oldham. And all this by Talk Talk, one of my great pop bands.

I then started listening to Talk Talk with new ears. I picked up Mark Hollis’ solo album when it came out. Over the years I’ve shared that music with many friends. Talk Talk’s music, and Mark’s solo work helps me explore my sorrow and joys. It never fails to move those who hear it.

On Youtube there is a video, recorded for a Netherlands tv show, of Mark and Talk Talk playing I Believe in You. He is clearly lip-synching. (Lip-synching was a common thing back in the day for many reasons, not all bad). If you watch him, despite that he is miming, Mark inhabits that song. Those words, those feelings.

Mark Hollis. Thank you. Your music matters immensely to me.

To Mark’s family. My sincere condolences.

Some of the most beautiful vocals and music I have ever experienced. Thank you, Mark. May you sing in the heavens above.

Have to say, this news was not a good start to the week at all. I regard the final three albums by Talk Talk as simply brilliant, so the passing of the driving force behind such works is very sad indeed.

I didn’t know Mark Hollis had released a solo album (ignorant me), until I started going through the comments here. A quick look at the various amazon sites around the world made it clear to me I might have to wait a bit before I could hear it … . Fast forward to Thursday, and I am wading through the cheap old stock of CDs at my local branch of Saturn – boxes and boxes of it, no order to the things at all. Then, suddenly, I see the name ‘Mark Hollis’: a brand-new, shrink-wrapped copy of his album, for five euros.

I am very happily freaked out.

Very shocking and sad news of Mark Hollis’ death. He was too young. As any fan, who knew the man was ill ? I had always hoped that he would some day come back to music and record a new album but, it was sadly not to be. I love his music and still regularly play Talk Talk several times a year.

I’m so saddened to read the news of Mark’s passing. When I first heard the “It’s My Life” album as a young teenager in the mid 1980’s I was instantly captured by its inspiring beauty. From that moment I knew that this was the work of a creative genius. Even as Talk Talk moved away from the mainstream and into a higher plane with the release of the brilliant ‘Spirit Of Eden’, when Mark and the band so unashamedly chose to forge their own path, I was still hooked. This is the work of a sonic master. The song ‘I Believe In You’ reaches a part of me that no other musician’s work has, and will do so forever.

Rest in peace Mark.

Laughing Stock is very simply one of the best albums ever recorded. An absolute triumph. I will miss Mark Hollis so much but your music lives on. Rest in peace.

Can I just add to the wonderful comments made by music lovers on this page about the contribution of Mark Hollis and Talk Talk to the world we live in. My journey with Talk Talk began with Its my life which I bought as a vinyl single when it first came out and used to blast out over the speakers when I got home from my fairly dreary job at the time.

I then progressed to Colour of Spring which I think is one of the greatest albums ever made. Spirit of Eden is terrific and gets a run in the household when I feel like some contemplative music but I keep returning to Colour of Spring and Its my Life as the music has wonderful uplifting energy which they captured and reproduced live on stage. The interesting thing is I met my partner Claudia in the early 1990s and one of her favourite albums was Colour of Spring so Mark and the band were in part responsible for my relationship over the past 26 years.

Hearing of Mark’s death left a very empty feeling for both of us as while he was alive I could still hold on to the forlorn hope that he may one day share his wonderful music with us again. Thank you Mark.

I don’t have much to add to the below. It is truly lovely to see how much he and his music meant to so many. Sometimes you think it is just you! But, for what it’s worth …

I was 15 and looking for something beyond the charts, and was intrigued by the cover art for “Spirit of Eden”. I vaguely remembered “Life’s What You Make It” from a couple of years before, but essentially bought it blind. I had never heard anything like the start of “The Rainbow”. Then, at 18, just before going to uni (Sussex, coincidentally – there was a solitary tree outside my window in a wide field which instantly reminded me of THAT tree, I wonder if that was there when – and if? – Mark studied there) “Laughing Stock” comes out (again with a perfect sleeve) and to my mind it trumps Spirit. Only just – it’s a bit less clean and defined. I remember a review in Q was it that said that while Spirit of Eden looked through the spyhole before answering the door to you, Laughing Stock cowered at the end of the hall while you looked through the letterbox? That always stayed with me. Then, after the whole of uni, some unemployment and other troubles, comes the solo album and I was just into my first real job. And just beginning to understand how long it was until retirement. Needless to say all 3 albums have been in my top 10 of all time for some 20 years or more.

So, to sum up, I was shocked and saddened like the rest of us. But the warm February is somehow its own tribute (at least where I am in the south of the UK) – the colour of spring is literally everywhere. Time It’s Time, indeed.

I’m very fascinated by the fast evolution of the band. The first album is somewhere between Ultravox and Real Life. Very earyl 80s. Fine work. And then the second is a “Sgt Pepper’s” of the 80s, including a reprise of the theme (It’s My Life theme used again in It’s You). The album has much more different styles than the first one. On the third album they still had pop songs but almost the other half of the songs are very “free”, very artistic, looking for some jazz paths. And then pop was over. The fourth album is clearly beyond the pop genre, so is the fifth one. I still don’t know Hollies solo work nor the Missing Pieces.

I’m just one too give my condolences to his family I just I’m so sad I don’t have much else to say except you will be very greatly missed I for one love this music and he seems like a very kind gentleman what a loss

So sad to hear this news. 140 responses in a couple of days speaks volumes about the love from so many for this wonderful musician and his totally one off band who gave us such amazing music for an all too short period of time. I first heard Talk Talk performing songs from the Colour of Spring on Channel 4’s The Tube (I think this was about 1985?) and was hooked instantly. Loved them ever since and I echo all the tributes expressed by others here – I can’t better those. Thanks Mark for all the fantastic music and RIP

Talk Talk has been everything to me for such a long time. There are so many albums and tunes that really I couldnt live without. Spirit of Eden saw me through some very hard times in my life. I was just listening to Laughing Stock again last night and marvelling at what an extraordinary album it is. It’ll take a little time to process this news. For me a very special light has gone out.

Haven’t commented so far because was a bit floored to be honest. I got into Talk Talk at an impressionable age – I remember buying The Colour Of Spring on album when I was I think 15 or 16 – I still remember how luxuriant the whole thing seemed- even the label which I think was a deep purple colour. It is as stunning now as it was then. By the time I bought the follow up Spirit of Eden it was on CD and that took me I think realistically 2 years to get into – yet I kept coming back to it. Eventually something unlocked and fully let me in – I have only considered it a wonder ever since.

Mark has been, for the longest time for me, at the very top of the list of music people who’d gone quiet that I wanted to hear from again – and still now it amazes me how some with little talent continue to persue music whilst someone with such remarkable talent – I would agree he is a musical genius – could step away. But away he did step – and god bless him for having the presence of mind to know when he was done with it. His catalogue is pretty much one of the most small and perfectly formed that has ever graced lovers of music. I thank him wholeheartedly – his voice will carry on I think for an extremely long time – I geneuinely believe he will still be heard in hundreds of years time – I think he’s that significant.

One final thought – I know I’m as guilty as many in wanting archive content from the dear departed beloved – but in this case I think no – Mark was something of an enigma and he exercised probably the most savage quality control in the business – cheerfully wiping stuff. I think what we have is simply stunning – and very much that’s all we should now have.

The word “artist” is used so casually to describe any musical act. Mark Hollis and Talk Talk were truly artists in every sense of the word, and from the very first, every aspect of their music, the artwork, their development, and their sense of purpose was something I respected, admired, treasured and enjoyed.

Musically, there’s my life before 1982 and then there’s my life after 1982, as that’s the year I entered high school. “Talk Talk” and “Today” were two of the ten most impactful songs of that milestone year for me.

To this day, The Party’s Over remains one of my favorite albums. In that way that our identification with certain art makes it as much about us as it is about the artist, it’s one of those records that, like a time travel device or some hallucinogenic drug, I’ve found bending the time-space continuum and placing me traveling alongside people, places, things and feelings from what can often seem like a different world so very long ago and so very far away.

Love to him and his family. And love to all those who identified with something in his passionate musical expressions, and in whom that will continue to resonate.

“Everything’s alright/Life’s what you make it/…/Celebrate it”

Spirit of Eden is simply the finest album i’ve ever heard or ever will hear. Utterly life changing.

The joy of music is that it lives on in immortality long past when the creator leaves this mortal plane. The music has long been a part of my life, will continue to be so for as long as I am blessed to be here and will be so a long time after that. Thank you for the music dear sir…it is the gift you’ve brilliantly left all of us and for that we are thankful.

I think that what Craig Hedges wrote below regarding the possibility of Mark’ s family to receive a collection of the SDE readers’ words is a very kind and sweet idea.
I can confirm that receiving words of love also from people you were not aware of who are grateful towards your loved one can help a little in attenuating the pain.

I would like to ask Paul if he can make this happen, somehow.

I was introduced to Talk Talk around the age of 13, with my brother who owned some 12inches records, he bought in 1986 the one with “its my life” and “such a shame” Us mixes. These 2 tracks became sizable hits in France. My brother sadly passed away a few months later, and I knew this record will remain something special. I kept on listening to it and I was fascinated by its artwork with the drawing of a scorpio. Then a few years later, mid 90s, i went on to live in the Uk. At last i bought the album on CD “its my life” in a secondhand shop. Talk Talk were considered then by the general public as a 1 or 2 hits wonders (the same kind of image than A-ha I suppose back then). This album for me was then a revelatiion, very much so for the two particular album tracks ” Renee ” and ” tomorrow started”. I loved their melancholy, melody and sophisticated production. I knew then there was so much more to discover in their discography. “The colour of spring” was then my next purchase. At the begining of this century, i was by then living in Amsterdam and i used to go a lot to record fairs (Utrecht). At this time my holy grail to buy was their live album out of print LONDON 86, i think one of the best live album ever recorded. I was so happy when i finally got it for 40 GBP if i remember well!!! Since then I have been listening to Talk Talk all through these years with nostalgia and as a secret well kept (except for those 2 hits of course which became classics of 80’s good pop) . Its comforting to see all the love for this band and Mark Hollis on SDE… RIP… And the music lives on forever.

I was fortunate enough to see Talk Talk in Oct 1982, one of the first gigs I took my future wife to. Southampton Gaumont is a classic all seated theatre, though that didn’t stop us rushing to the front of the stage when the lights went down. It was a fantastic, fun gig with both audience and band having a great time. (When did bands stop enjoying themselves on stage?) What a great pop band they were. Some 36 years later we still turn to each whenever we here a TT song and say what a great night that was.
Like many others I believe SoE is a true “late night” classic that grows with every listening, though a personal is the title track from their first album The Party’s Over best listened to with the volume set to 11.

Thanks for the music and memories Mark, R.I.P

This is truly sad, I do hope Mark didn’t have to suffer long with whatever illness decided it needed to take him. I’ve been lucky as the last 3 evenings I’ve been able to see Joe Jackson, Bob Mould and tonight Peter Murphy and David J.; all roughly within a decade of each other and Mark age-wise and all still doing good-to-great performing. Learning this news makes this hard to take in that Mr. Hollis can’t be amongst them doing the same. I’d even recently purchased the new Rustin Man ‘Drift Code’ album and thinking ‘well at least it’s 2 of 3 from Talk Talk’ while enjoying it on its own merits.
My SACD’s of ‘Colour Of Spring’ and ‘Spirit Of Eden’ are 2 of the best-sounding recordings I own in my collection, hopefully the rest of their catalogue can receive this treatment as it deserves it (yes even ‘The Party’s Over’, not quite as shallow as people might remember). I also second those mentioning the book Phill Brown wrote about his production career, the chapters on Talk Talk are near-priceless. My big hope going forward besides peace for Mark’s family is that whoever is in possession or control of the Talk Talk/Mark Hollis catalogue give it care, this is one case where anything ‘in the vaults’ would be welcome since what little is out in the world has never quite felt like enough. Those genius bastards leaving us wanting more….rest in peace Mark.

Lifted up
Reflected in returning love you sing
Heaven waits

I was impressed by many singles, then When I heard Colour of Spring, I mean really heard it and appreciated how clever it was… wow. Powerful example of people doing fine work at that time. If I hear one more idiot say that the 80s was a ‘lost decade’ for music, my head will explode. One reviewer described Hollis as having a ‘plaintive’ but intense voice, and it was obvious that he also had something to say with that voice. The reports/accolades from contemporaries like The The Roland Orzabal and more speaks volumes. He was a musicians musician. Spirit of Eden was sad because it wasn’t well received but an album that showed a constant search for more. It wasn’t afraid to go against ‘pop’ sensibility and was an artistic success, but not a commercial one. Its reputation has grown, as is often the case when someone is ahead of their time. The record was explorative, unabashedly downtempo and would have fit in with records made 10-20 years later. Roland Orzabal said to even say he made some of the best 80s music is incorrect because he made music and to ‘lump that in’ with a genre of ’80s music’ misses the point. He was just an artist… RIP.

Been dwelling on this all day. Cheers Mark, for the beautifully wrought affecting music that never gets old. What a great bloke.

R.I.P. Mark.
Life’s what you made it.

The first album under my arm, looking for second hand clothes in Lisbon in 1982, looking for wide, pleated trousers and double breasted jackets. Cut my own hair short with the help of a mirror. Played the album on my late grandfather’s Philips HI-FI, with conical stylus (flip for 33 and 45s or 78s), aged tubes and paper cone speakers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PaBbk8cTKM

My best friend at school bought me Natural History when I was about 15, I had missed Talk Talk first time around and because of the music I was enjoying he knew that I was missing a link. As a best of compilation I don’t believe it has ever been bettered and since then every musical choice links back to the Talk Talk library – Doves, Elbow, Coldplay….they all owe Talk Talk a debt. The news genuinely shocked me last night and it’s incredible to think that a band with 5 studio albums….that I have played every year…. limited commercial success and little touring to speak of had so much influence – they were truly special and their music will live on for many many years.

Such a young Dude. RIP Mark. You leave behind a truly great musical legacy.

I listened to Laughing Stock today and cried all the way through the album. Same happened when I listened to Color of Spring. My eyes are dry. As with all above, I have been in shock because of dashed hopes, my youth lost and an idol gone.

I read that his manager said that he had a short period of illness that he lost his life to.

I remember reading Alan Wilder saying that whenever he loses faith in current music, he listens to Spirit of Eden to restore it. He re-did their catalogue with guest musicians about 5 years ago and some of that work was nice.
As this hope of new TT music is crushed, maybe one day when I do my weekly web search for “Alan Wilder joining Depeche Mode again”, I’ll be surprised with that gift.

Let’s raise a glass to Mark and the undying gift he gave us all.

Sad news. One of the most astounding progressions in music, from the poppy first album through to his magnificent solo opus.

I’ve been looking up stuff about him and learned that he was persuaded to score a film called Peacock in 2010 and that none of the resulting music was used in the film. One short piece of music from that score later surfaced in an episode of a TV series called Boss.

Very Sad News.Was lucky to see Talk Talk a couple of times,And like most other in the comments ‘the colour Of spring’ Is a fantastic album.
R.I.P

Man, that’s a bummer yet again. Loved all of Talk Talk’s catalogue as well as Mark’s solo album, beauty personified. Even though he had been out of the limelight for so long this is indeed so sad.

What a loss. Certainly the earlier records have much to recommend but The Colour of Spring and especially Spirit of Eden opened me to different ways of looking at music, different avenues and colors and no specific genre. I was fascinated how the later music continued with a muted and more minimalist palette, to equal effect. I respected how he followed this journey irrespective of its lack of commerciality. Peace and strength to his loved ones.

Such sad news, and i was only listening to ‘Give It Up’ by Talk Talk just the other day. I love their music, its so different but yet so unique for the 80s. I was always mystified by Mark Hollis in that i don’t know much about him, as i guess he didn’t like being in the spot light, but man i’m actually quite sad to hear this news. 64 is still so young! R.I.P Mark Hollis, the music lives on.

Sad news. Talk Talk produced a fair share of outstanding 80s classics and his unusual voice was also a big part of it. RIP Mr Hollis. Hope you didnt suffer.

I started listening to music in 1985, at the age of 13, and Such A Shame was one of the first ten records I bought. Life’s What You Make It made me a great impression too and later I loved listening to It’s My Life (the LP) and The Colour Of Spring.
When Spirit of Eden came out, I remember saying to a friend at the record shop that it was beautiful but that I wasn’t ready to listening to it! Actually it took me 10 years before I bought it, it was 1998 and since then I think that this is one of the most beautiful recording ever. I like collecting their records and it’s a great pleasure to listen to them sometimes and looking to their great artworks by James Marsh, and for those who like it too, the book Spirit of Talk Talk is a must have.
Talk Talk had a very strange career indeed, 5 albums only (6 with ‘Mark Hollis’) that I all love, for a reason or another, but they left an inprint in musical history, opening the path for bands like Radiohead, Sigur Ros or Do Make Say Think. In fact they came ten years earlier… I never thought that Mark Hollis would come back to music, so I was hoping for something new, all is left now is 6 albums, numerous compilations and great songs.
My goes also goes to his family and friends. So rest in peace Mark Hollis and thank you.

Just read through the comments below and had a cry. There is some genuine emotion which I haven’t seen for other artistes which have passed recently, especially for someone who has been invisible for the past 30 years.
There are certain sounds which affect me emotionally and one of them is Mark’s voice, it’s goes from my ears straight to my heart. I also want to say that I have absolute admiration for Mark’s reluctance to play the fame game. He came, said what he wanted to say and left the stage.
I hope his family get to read these comments and see how much Mark meant to us.

Working in a busy Virgin shop, one of my compadres, Libby, said listen to this – it was Colour Of Spring. In an era of harshly recorded albums it was like a warmly analogue breath of fresh air . . . even on CD!

Very sad news.I always loved Talk Talk.They were one of those bands that made you think life was worthwhile and the music they made was truly special.I am glad he got to spend his last years with his family .Nobody knows how long they have but at least Mark made the right decision and devoted himself to what mattered the most to himself his family. He passed away on the warmest febuary day in the UK on record.The Colour Of Spring ,Indeed.Never to be forgotten.

R.I.P. Mark.
1 of the icons of the 80s!

this is very very sad.
the first time I heard LWYMI I loved it. bought the 7″

never forget when I went investigating their past
and listened to the first album and that title track

I had been led to believe by so much I had read the first album
was not really that good (compared to what followed)

when I heard this part

This crime of being
Uncertain of your love
Is all I’m guilty of

coupled with that music, so much emotion, direct, intense and pure.
I was blown away

even though the first 2 albums are quite poppy,
I still think they have a real depth to them. this is
*not* 80s throw-a-way pop. it (and they at the time) just
sadly got lumped in with that.

I always hoped I would get to see them live …

What sad news about the passing of Mark. To say I love the Colour of Spring album, would be an understatement in the extreme. I’d like to share with your readers, Paul how I came across it. It was the strangest coincidence, that I had been talking with an acquaintance (a real contemporary music aficionado) and, as was my wont, I was trying to glean the latest ‘must have’ album to enhance my scant CD music collection. He mentioned this not-so-new album by a band called Talk Talk, entitled The Colour of Spring, and although I was listening, perhaps my attention drifted somewhat when he started to say how different it was from the 2 previous TT albums and that it really was something to behold and cherish. I knew of an earlier single, It’s my Life and quite liked it. Nothing more was said on the subject and I essentially forgot the whole conversation. Several months passed and one day decided to donate some unwanted to clothes, which had been in the boot of my car for weeks, to a charity shop . I was nowhere near my home, but passed a shop in the back of beyond somewhere, that I no longer recall, and suddenly remembered the clothes I needed to get rid of. I pulled up right outside, leaving the car in the one remaining parking space, ran in with the clothes and as I was about to leave, noticed a stack of CDs on the counter which presumably had recently been handed in and were awaiting pricing. Because I could see my car through the window, I knew it was safe to have a 15 second browse to see if there was anything of interest, something I would not normally do, as it’s usually a load of old dross that seems to find its way into such establishments. Well, something in the pile, caught my eye – The Colour of Spring by Talk Talk. Wasn’t this the album that my acquaintance had said was a ‘must buy’? I just couldn’t recall exactly what he’d said all those months ago, but I did remember that he’d said that there was this weird cover with hand-drawn butterflies or something. Not 100% sure whether this was the right one, I chanced my arm and bought it. A £1 for a worthy cause; at least my conscience would be satisfied. Once home, with great trepidation, I inserted the CD into my player and it makes the hairs on my neck stand up on end just thinking back now, that I had stumbled by sheer chance on this absolute unequivocal masterpiece. Well if that wasn’t providence, I don’t know what is. It was just unbelievable how it panned out and I thought back at the time how the sequence of events led me to it. Out of the 2,500 CDs I currently own, if I was allowed to keep just half a dozen, TCOS would undoubtedly be one of them.

I was wrecked to hear this yesterday. From the title song on The Party’s Over through his solo record, I’ve loved his music and never stopped listening to it. Even the London 1986 is excellent, especially the live version of Give It Up. So much to love!!

Absolutley Gutted. . Talk talk were an amazing band and Mark Hollis had such a distintive emotive voice. Grew up listening to his music and for me thier songs are still as strong and still mean so much to me today life is what you make it and Mark Hollis you will leave a lasting impact on mine, RIP Mark. Thoughts are with your family & Friends and all fans of music

A monumental loss, though retired already 20 years ago practically speaking. One of the few new 80’s bands able to evolve to the last album.

Curiosity, that last time he played live in the UK was at Imperial War Museum of all places, as Talk Talk and already in 1986. The last gigs were abroad by the fall same year. He was just over 30 years too! No solo concerts, nor TT gigs either during the last band albums era.

Had always hoped that he might decide to come out of retirement and release more work – his self-titled solo album is essential for anyone that liked Talk Talk’s later output.
Sadly not to be….

RIP Mark – I’m glad we have a great collection of music to remember you by.

Another genius gone, so sad .
RIP Mark