Eighties singer Richard Darbyshire has died at the age of 65, his family has confirmed.
The vocalist of synth-pop group Living In A Box died on Monday, November 10, leaving behind a musical legacy that touched fans worldwide.
His relatives shared their grief with the BBC, stating: “We are all very sad but his memory and songs will live on.”
The Sheffield-formed group’s frontman had been a defining voice of the late eighties pop scene, with his distinctive vocals powering chart-topping tracks that became era-defining anthems.
Richard Darbyshire had been vocalist of synth-pop group Living In A Box
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The cause of his death has not been disclosed by the family.
The news has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow musicians, with supporters describing the loss as devastating for the music industry and praising his enduring contributions to British pop music.
His former bandmates Anthony “Tich” Critchlow and Marcus Charles Vere released a heartfelt statement honouring their colleague’s extraordinary abilities.
“Richard was an incredible talent – what a voice! His vocal skills knew no bounds, from the driving raw power of our first, eponymous hit song, to the tender heart-melting charm of ‘Room In Your Heart’, Richard, truly, could do it all,” they wrote.
Richard Darbyshire has died at 65
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The pair praised his often-overlooked guitar skills and described him as central to their creative process, calling him “a pure craftsman and a master of his art.”
They revealed Mr Darbyshire’s discomfort with celebrity, noting: “He hated the photo shoots, the interviews, the TV appearances and thought it was all a bit daft. He was happiest in the studio, guitar in hand, working on the next song.”
The trio came together when Mr Darbyshire encountered Critchlow and Vere at a Sheffield recording facility where they were developing their breakthrough track.
After being invited to provide vocals for their demo, the collaboration secured them a five-album contract, with their namesake single achieving Top 20 status in America and fifth position in Britain during 1987.
Richard Darbyshire’s family confirmed the sad news on Tuesday
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Marcus Vere recalled to Music Technology magazine that year: “The impact of the first single was so enormous. It came from nowhere and shot straight up the charts. The vice-president of marketing in the States said it’s the fastest single they’ve had in four years.”
The group achieved two additional top ten UK singles, “Blow The House Down” and “Room In Your Heart”, before Darbyshire’s exit in 1989 amid creative disagreements following changes at their record company.
Following his departure from the group, Darbyshire pursued a solo path, releasing the album “Better to Have Lost” in 1994, which featured material originally intended for Living In A Box’s unfinished third record.
He established himself as a sought-after songwriter, penning tracks for prominent artists including Lisa Stansfield, Jennifer Rush and Level 42.
Tributes have flooded in for Richard Darbyshire
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In recent years, he had been sharing his expertise through songwriting workshops in the capital.
He leaves behind his spouse, the vocal instructor Sonia Jones.
Living In A Box continued without their original frontman, reforming in 2016 with soul vocalist Kenny Thomas before touring with current singer Bryan Chambers.
Critchlow and Vere concluded their tribute: “Richard, wherever you are, Tich and I will miss you dearly. The laughs we had, the wildcat ride we went on, will never be forgotten.”