Denise Johnson, the iconic British singer from the Manchester area has passed away, her record label has confirmed. Johnson, 56 at the time of her passing, was largely known for her powerful vocals and collaborations with various artists. Perhaps most notable were her efforts on backing vocals and as co-lead vocalist for Primal Scream’s seminal 1991 release, Screamdelica, which was released to widespread critical acclaim and commercial success.
The singer’s untimely death prompted a slew of reactions from across the British music world and beyond including Simone Marie of Primal Scream, the Stone Roses’ and a statement from the band New Order.
Johnson performed with a legion of other impressive acts throughout her career including the likes of Electronic, a supergroup formed by Johnny Marr and Bernard sumner, as well as A Certain Ratio, New Order and I Am Kloot.
Today, Johnson’s record label, A Certain Ratio, released a very thoughtful statement addressing the singer’s untimely passing that also highlighted her remarkable talents and career. They had also shared a post to their Instagram account earlier in the day, asking people to respect her family’s privacy and to spend time “remembering her loving nature and infectious humour.”
The singer was in the midst of preparing to release her solo acoustic debut album, Where Does It Go, on September 25. In addition to original tracks from Johnson, the LP will include covers of tracks by several fellow Manchester musicians including “Well I Wonder” by The Smiths and New Order’s “True Faith.”
Check out some of Johnson’s stirring vocal performances below.
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