Pulp bassist Steve Mackey dies aged 56

Pulp bassist Steve Mackey has died astatine the property of 56, his household has confirmed.

The Sheffield instrumentalist played connected hits including Common People, Disco 2000 and Lipgloss, aft joining Pulp successful 1989.

His woman Katie posted a connection to societal media connected Thursday, saying helium had been successful infirmary for the past 3 months with an undisclosed illness.

"We are shocked and devastated to person said goodbye to my brilliant, beauteous husband," she added.

"Steve was the astir talented antheral I knew, an exceptional musician, producer, lensman and filmmaker.

"As successful life, helium was adored by everyone whose paths helium crossed successful the aggregate originative disciplines helium conquered.

"I would similar to explicit my heartfelt acknowledgment to each the NHS unit who worked tirelessly for Steve. He volition beryllium missed beyond words."

Pulp posted their ain tribute soon afterwards, informing fans that their "beloved" bass subordinate had passed distant connected Thursday morning.

They shared a photograph of the instrumentalist from their 2012 tour, spending a time disconnected successful the snow-capped Andes.

"We had a time disconnected and Steve suggested we spell climbing," the set said. "So we did and it was a wholly magical experience.

"Far much magical than staring astatine the edifice partition each time (which is astir apt what we'd person done otherwise).

"Steve made things happen, successful his beingness and successful the band. We'd precise overmuch similar to deliberation that he's backmost successful those mountains now, connected the adjacent signifier of his adventure."

Pulp are owed to spell backmost connected circuit this summertime for a bid of reunion shows.

Mackey chose not to instrumentality portion successful the concerts, telling fans helium had decided to ore connected his "music, filmmaking and photography projects" instead.

The instrumentalist was calved successful Sheffield successful 1966, and attended schoolhouse with different Pulp alumnus, Richard Hawley.

He joined the set successful 1989 - a decennary into its vocation - and archetypal appeared connected their 3rd medium Separations.

After signing to Island Records successful the aboriginal 1990s, the set deed the large clip with classical albums including His 'N' Hers and Different Class, with frontman Jarvis Cocker becoming 1 of the astir beloved characters of the Britpop era.

Speaking to Pulp's authoritative website successful 1996, Mackey said he'd enjoyed the roller-coaster thrust of fame.

"I deliberation if you are successful a set that are fashionable past you mightiness arsenic good bask it." helium said.

"That's what we ever wanted to bash and I don't deliberation determination is thing incorrect with being silly. You'd beryllium throwing distant a spot of a aureate accidental - you mightiness arsenic good beryllium a librarian each of your life."

After the set went connected hiatus successful 2002, Mackey co-wrote and produced songs for artists including MIA (Galang, Sunshowers), Florence + The Machine (Kiss With A Fist) and Arcade Fire (Everything Now).

He besides played a cameo successful the 2005 movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, arsenic 1 of The Weird Sisters - a stone set that besides featured Jarvis Cocker and Radiohead musicians Jonny Greenwood and Phil Selway.

Mackey teamed up with Pulp again for their 2012 reunion; and besides co-curated London's Frieze Art Fair for a fig of years successful the 2000s.

He joined manner writer Katie Grand successful 2009, and the mates had a lad together, Marley, who was calved successful 1996.