Steve Mackey, the bassist for Pulp, has passed away, the band has announced, paying tribute to a “cherished friend” who “made things happen.”
The Sheffield band, who rose to prominence in the 1990s with their fourth and fifth albums His ‘N’ Hers and Different Class, announced on Thursday that the musician had passed away. Katie, Mackey’s wife, posted a tribute on Instagram and divulged that he had spent three months in the hospital.
The band posted a 2012 tour photo to Instagram and captioned it: ” His family and loved ones are in our thoughts.
“When Pulp was on tour in South America in 2012, this photograph of Steve was taken. Steve suggested we go to Andes mountaineering on our day off. So we did.”
The tribute continued by calling the journey “an utterly magical experience”. “Far more enchanted than staring at the hotel wall all day (which is likely what we would have done otherwise). Things were made happen by Steve. We hope he’s back in those mountains, starting his next journey in life and with the band.
“Safe travels, Steve. We hope to see you again in the future.”
Mackey joined Pulp in the late 1980s, debuting on their third album, Separations. His ‘N’ Hers, the band’s fourth album, was released in 1994 and was later nominated for the Mercury Prize. Two years later, their fifth album Different Class, which included the hits Common People. Something Changes, Disco 2000, Mis-Shapes, and Sorted For E’s & Wizz, won the prestigious Grammy.
Common People won an Ivor Novello in 1996, and the Ivor’s Academy awarded them for their song collection in 2017.
In addition to his work with the band, Mackey was a producer who collaborated with artists such as MIA, Arcade Fire, and Florence + The Machine.
His wife Katie paid tribute by saying: “After three months in the hospital, where he fought with all his strength and resolve, my brilliant and beautiful husband, Steve Mackey, has passed away. We are shocked and devastated”.
Today, Steve passed away, a loss that has left me, his son Marley, his parents Kath and Paul, his sister Michelle, and many other friends devastated.
“As in life, he was adored by all whose creative disciplines he mastered. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to every member of the NHS staff who tirelessly worked for Steve. He will be sorely missed.”
