Pulp bassist Steve Mackey dies at 56

Steve Mackey, bassist for Pulp at the time of its greatest successes, died Thursday at the age of 56, announced the Britpop group, which is preparing to reform this year for a tour.

“Our friend and beloved bassist Steve Mackey passed away this morning“, the group said on their official Instagram account, captioning a photo of a musician climbing a mountain in the Andes Cordillera during a tour of South America in 2012, “a magical experience“.”Steve was someone who made things happen, in his life and for the band, and we’d like to think he’s back in those mountains for the next leg of his adventure.“, is it added. His wife, stylist Katie Grand, clarified on the bassist’s Instagram account that he was dead “a nearly three months spent in the hospital fighting with strength and determination“.

Originally from Sheffield, in the north of England, Steve Mackey had joined Pulp, formed in 1978 and then little known, in 1989 and had participated in the albums Separations, Different Class and His ‘n’ Hers, which marked the peak of the band, with hits like Common People.

Collaboration with other artists

After his career with Pulp, whose last album dates back to 2013, he helped produce artists like Florence + the Machine or Arcade Fire. While the leader of Pulp Jarvis Cocker had recently announced a new tour for festivals next summer, Steve Mackey had indicated that he did not intend to participate, explaining that he wanted “continue projects in music, film and photography“.