Mars Williams performing with The Psychedelic Furs in Leeds in September 2017.Photo:Andrew Benge/Redferns
Andrew Benge/Redferns
Mars Williams, the renowned saxophone player of new wave bandsThe Psychedelic Fursand The Waitresses, has died at age 68.
The jazz artist — who played in the short-lived, punk-new-wave band The Waitresses from 1980 to 1983 and with The Psychedelic Furs for six years in the ‘80s before rejoining the group in 2005 — was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that affects the digestive system in December 2022, according toa GoFundMehis family set up to help cover treatment costs.
Mars Williams performing with The Psychedelic Furs.Luis Ortiz/Clasos/LatinContent via Getty
Luis Ortiz/Clasos/LatinContent via Getty
“Until the end, Mars' inexhaustible humor and energy, and his love for music, pushed him forward,” his family wrote. “As it became clear in late summer that his treatment options were coming to an end, he chose to spend six weeks of the time he had left living as he had since he was a teenager — out on the road performing night after night. Those last performances with the Psychedelic Furs will live on with all of the other incredible contributions that Mars has made as a person, and as a musician, and that boundless energy will continue to inspire.”
Mars Williams and Rico Love of The Psychedelic Furs.Valerio Berdini/Shutterstock
Valerio Berdini/Shutterstock
The “Love My Way” band also shared a note about Williams' death with posts onInstagramandX(formerly Twitter) on Monday. The group shared a thoughtful photo of a saxophone sitting under the spotlight on a stage, overlooking a dark auditorium, and wrote how “heartbroken” they were in the caption.
The recording artist was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1955 where he played clarinet for years and studied jazz at DePaul University before relocating to New York where he connected with The Waitresses and eventually The Psychedelic Furs. With The Waitresses, Williams played on songs like “Christmas Wrapping” and “I Know What Boys Like,” earning him his firstBillboard Hot 100 hit.
The rocker also spent over two decades playing in the Grammy-nominated jazz-funk group Liquid Soul and had stints performing and recording with iconic acts such asBilly Idol, Jerry Garcia,The Killersand many others.
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He also spoke about his reunion with The Psychedelic Furs in a 2009 conversation with the U.K.‘sPenny Black Music. “I got back with the Furs in 2005. We were all older. We had been friends for so long. We put our resentments behind us. I love being back in the band,” the saxophonist shared. “They didn’t have another horn after that. Richard Butler said, ‘Wow. This is what’s been missing.’ It’s a really good vibe. It’s a good bunch of guys. We’re having fun.”
source: people.com
