21 April 2023 , 18:49
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Mark Stewart, frontman of the seventies band Pop Group has died aged 62, with tributes paid to the "creative force of nature."
Record Label Mute confirmed that Mark died in the early hours of this morning.
The statement read: "In honour of this original, fearless, sensitive, artistic and funny man, think for yourself and question everything
"The world was changed because of Mark Stewart, it will never be the same without him."
Mark formed the counterculture group in 1977 with friends John Waddington and Simon Underwood.
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Later, Gareth Sager and Bruce Smith joined the band to complete the line-up.
The band were known for rejecting conventional authority in their music and their political themes.
Mark Stewart performing in 2021 in CoventryThey had been inspired by the Clash and embraced the punk movement, with Mark later explaining: “There is the arrogance of power and what we got from punk was the power of arrogance.”
In 1980, Pop Group split after performing at a rally for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Trafalgar Square.
Gareth, paying tribute to Mark described him as the "most amazing mind of my generation."
Adrian Sherwood, of the New Age Steppers collective which Stewart was a member of, said Mark was "the biggest musical influence in my life and our extended family will miss you so so much."
Mark Stewart has died aged 62The head of Mute, Daniel Miller, penned: "His musical influence has been much greater than is often acknowledged … I can’t imagine you being anything other than restless but I hope you find your very special peace."
After Pop Group split, Mark collaborated with Adrian on solo work, as Mark Stewart & the Maffia.
The band reformed in 2010 and performed live, releasing a compilation and two albums.
His final solo album, The Politics of Envy was released in 2012.
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Mark was described as a 'creative force of nature'Mark's music hit out at injustices and capitalism, with the singer saying in 2008: "Arguments are good. People are brainwashed to think that these things are out of your control; in the shops round here people say ‘I don’t want to think about politics’, they are taught, it’s kept behind the curtains.”
Mute described the activist as a “dear friend, fellow agitator and creative force of nature” with a “hugely confident and dominating presence” that was coupled with a “warm and sensitive nature”.
Gareth said Mark had the "most amazing mind" of his generationThe statement added: “His hugely confident and dominating presence was coupled with a sensitive, warm, creative, curious, intelligent and hilarious nature – traits that were often hidden upon first meeting this towering tour de force.