RIP: Gang of Four Mastermind and Guitarist Andy Gill Dead at 64

Andy Gill, guitarist and founding member of legendary post-punk band Gang of Four, has died today following short respiratory illness. Gill played guitar for Gang of Four since 1976, alongside original members Jon King, Dave Allen and Hugo Burnham. Though the band’s line up changed several times over the years, Gill remained the sole original member of Gang of Four. His career spanned from the 1978 debut single “Damaged Goods” to 2019’s “Happy Now” to their most recent studio album.

The band Gang of Four posted in a statement, “This is so hard for us to write, but our great friend and Supreme Leader has died today. Andy’s final tour in November was the only way he was ever really going to bow out; with a Stratocaster around his neck, screaming with feedback and deafening the front row. His uncompromising artistic vision and commitment to the cause meant that he was still listening to mixes for the upcoming record, whilst planning the next tour from his hospital bed. But to us, he was our friend and we’ll remember him for his kindness and generosity, his fearsome intelligence, bad jokes, mad stories and endless cups of Darjeeling tea. He just so happened to be a bit of a genius too. One of the best to ever do it, his influence on guitar music and the creative process was inspiring for us, as well as everyone who worked alongside him and listened to his music. And his albums and production work speak for themselves. Go give ‘em a spin for him. Love you mate.”

Signed by his bandmates John Sterry, Thomas McNeice and Tobias Humble, Gill is described as “one of the best to ever do it,” adding that “his influence on guitar music and the creative process was inspiring for us, as well as everyone who worked alongside him and listened to his music.” Gill was also a highly respected producer, not only on much of Gang of Four’s work, but several high-profile bands including Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Stranglers, Michael Hutchence, Killing Joke, Therapy?, The Jesus Lizard and The Futureheads.

Tom Morello wrote on his Instagram, “So sorry to hear of the passing of the great #AndyGill, guitarist of Gang of Four. One of my principal influences on the instrument as his jagged plague disco raptor attack industrial funk deconstructed guitar anti-hero sonics and fierce poetic radical intellect were formative for me. So glad I got to see him and revel in his incendiary art and wry wit several times over the past year. He was really, really fucking great.”

The entertainment world has been paying tribute to Gill with social media posts by Gary Numan, Tom Morello, Graham Coxon, Frankie Boyle, Primal Scream’s Simone Marie, and more. Gill is survived by his wife Catherine Mayer, his brother Martin and “many family and elective family members who will miss him terribly” according to a press statement.

Photo Credit: Boston Lynn Schulz

Kelly Tucker: Originally from Los Angeles, I grew up listening to all types of music. My first concert was Aerosmith with Skid Row, then moved on to concerts with Metallica, Lollapalooza, Guns N’ Roses, Soundgarden and more. One of my favorite shows of all time was when I was in college and someone took me to see the Allman Brothers play. I also scalped a ticket to see Pearl Jam and the amazing Eddie Vedder sing his heart out. My professional career started in 2000 at Nielsen Business Media where I was an assistant in a sales department and later got promoted to advertising account executive. When the recession hit in 2008 and the magazine was sold, I took a job at a call center and later got promoted to assistant to the CEO and COO of a global company. In 2017, I took a position at a pharmaceutical agency, and now currently responsible for coordinating meeting logistics for physicians and pharma reps throughout the United States. In my spare time, I work at Peace4Kids a non-profit in South Los Angeles and write screenplays in hopes to make a breakthrough.
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