Karl Wallinger, the mastermind behind neo-psychedelic pop classicists World Party who also played in the Waterboys during their early years, died Sunday at age 66. His family confirmed his death through his publicist.
Unashamedly steeped in vintage sounds, World Party crackled with Wallinger's sonic invention and melodic artistry, gifts evident on the modern rock hits “Ship of Fools,” “Way Down Now,” “Put the Message in the Box” and ” “She's the One.” ” a song that Robbie Williams took to number one in the UK. Pop singles were not explicitly part of Wallinger's purview, as far as the contemporary charts of the 1980s and 1990s were concerned. Recording largely on his own at his Seaview Studios in the United Kingdom, he synthesized elements of the Beatles; she had a knack for marrying the melodicism of Paul McCartney with the harsh mockery of John Lennon, David Bowie and Bob Dylan, adding a significant dose of Prince's Learned Joy. Wallinger's hybrid of sumptuous pop, hippie mysticism and postmodern cynicism helped World Party gain a foothold on college rock radio and MTV with their 1987 debut, “Private Revolution,” and their 1990 sophomore release, “Goodbye.” Jumbo”.
Although Wallinger served as musical director for Ben Stiller's 1994 romantic comedy “Reality Bites,” World Party was among the artists swept up in the alternative rock explosion of the early 1990s. Too tuneful and idiosyncratic to compete with grime from grunge, World Party evolved into a cult act, maintaining a loyal following but rarely crossing over into the mainstream.
Upon learning of Wallinger's death, Mike Scott, his former partner in the Waterboys, aware “You are one of the best musicians I have ever met.” Curt Smith from Tears of Fear mentioned, “I was a big admirer of Karl.”
Born on October 19, 1957 in Prestatyn, Wales, Karl Wallinger developed a love of music in his early childhood, an interest he continued to cultivate at Charterhouse, a public school that also considered all of the original members of Genesis as students; He later collaborated with Peter Gabriel on an eclectic project called “Big Blue Ball”. Mastering several instruments, Wallinger initially began his professional career as a keyboardist, playing in a group called Pax, which included Dave Sharp and Nigel Twist, both future members of Alarm.
After serving as musical director on a West End production of “The Rocky Horror Show,” Wallinger joined the Waterboys, an ambitious Scottish rock band led by Mike Scott. Wallinger first appeared on 1984's “A Pagan Place,” the group's second set, but his collaboration with Scott blossomed on “This Is the Sea,” a majestic modern rock record based on the single “The Whole of the Moon.” ” and driven by Wallinger's music. animated piano. (The creation of “This Is the Sea” is documented in its entirety on the recent “1985” box set.)
Wallinger's time with the Waterboys was brief. Courted by Chrysalis as a solo artist during the making of “This Is the Sea,” Wallinger left the group at the end of the album's supporting tour and released “Private Revolution” in early 1987. The caustic “Ship of Fools” ended up being a modern rock hit in the US, even breaking into Billboard's Top 40, turning Wallinger into a hot commodity in the process. He helped Sinead O'Connor create demos for her 1987 debut, “The Lion and the Cobra,” and arranged “Black Boys on Mopeds” for its 1990 sequel, “I Do Not Want What I Have n't Got.” “. O'Connor returned the favor by singing “Goodbye Jumbo,” World Party's second album.
“Goodbye Jumbo” was the peak of World Party's popularity, spawning a pair of modern rock hits in “Way Down Now” and “Put the Message in the Box,” earning a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Performance. and ranking 15th in the Village. Voice's Annual Pazz & Jop Critics Poll. Wallinger designed “Bang!”, their 1993 follow-up, as more of a band affair, adding drummer Chris Sharrock and guitarist David Catlin-Birch as official members. Despite the initial success of its melancholic lead single “Is It Like Today?”, “Bang!” It struggled to find an audience during the heyday of grunge. When World Party released “Egyptology” in 1997, the band was overshadowed by the clamor of Britpop, a scene as enamored of ’60s guitar-pop as Wallinger, but considerably younger.
After releasing “Dumbing Up” in 2000, Wallinger suffered a brain aneurysm that required a lengthy recovery period. He resurfaced in 2006, playing a live show at South by Southwest, and then appeared at Bonnaroo that same year. World Party continued to tour into the mid-2010s and released “Arkeology,” a five-disc set of unreleased songs, covers and live material, in 2012.
At the time of his death, Wallinger was working to complete his first new song in 25 years, a composition with the working title “Change.” He also began planning a new album and tour.
Wallinger is survived by his wife Suzie Zamit, son Louis Wallinger, daughter Nancy Zamit and two grandchildren.
