After a long battle with brain cancer, Hardy Fox, the primary composer of the enigmatic yet incredible Residents, has just passed away at the age of 73. The news was confirmed by the band through a tweet, including a message wrapped up with a short and sweet “Farewell, friend.”
The actual full lineup of the band has never been exposed, remaining one of the biggest mysteries in the entirety of rock and roll, but Fox was at the very least, for over 30 years, the President of the Cryptic Corporation, the public face of the band. He officially retired two years ago, but continued to work with them until his death. Just last year, he revealed his real involvement with the band, saying that was a founder and primary composer with The Residents.
Fox, alongside Homer Flynn, Jay Clem, and John Kennedy, the other members of the Cryptic Corporation, were often alleged to be the members of the Residents, but they themselves have always been very secretive. All of them have denied that they have ever been part of the band itself.
Fitting to his offbeat character, Fox addressed his own illness on his personal website by saying “1945-2018,” despite being very much alive. In fact, the Residents’ website clarified, acknowledging his dark humor, that Fox, knowing how ill he was, “seized the opportunity to scoop everybody on an autobiographical detail that very few get the chance to share.”
Check out the band’s tweet below.
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
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