Bill Fay, Cult Singer-Songwriter, Dead at 81

Invoice Fay, the cult singer-songwriter who discovered success later in his profession with the discharge of a number of albums via Lifeless Oceans, has died on the age of 81.

“It’s with nice disappointment that we announce the passing of Invoice Fay, who died peacefully this morning (February twenty first) in London, aged 81,” Lifeless Oceans stated in an announcement. “Invoice was a delicate man and a gentleman, sensible past our occasions. He was a non-public individual with the most important of hearts, who wrote immensely shifting, significant songs that may proceed to seek out individuals for years to come back.”

“Solely a month earlier than his passing, Invoice was busy engaged on a brand new album,” Lifeless Oceans’ assertion added. Our hope is to discover a option to end and launch it, however for now, we keep in mind Invoice’s legacy because the ‘man within the nook of the room on the piano’, who quietly wrote heartfelt songs that touched and related with individuals around the globe.”

The North London native launched his eponymous debut in 1970, and adopted with Time of the Final Persecution in 1971. However with neither album experiencing industrial success, Fay was pressured to pursue different careers, together with as a groundskeeper, fruit picker, manufacturing unit employee, and fishmonger. It was not till the Nineties that his music started to earn one thing of a cult standing, with Nick Cave, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, and Okkervil River’s Will Sheff counting amongst his largest followers. Lastly, after greater than 40 years, Fay returned in 2012 with a brand new album known as Life is Folks via Lifeless Oceans. He put out two extra albums via the label: 2015’s Who Is the Sender? and 2020’s Numerous Branches.

Describing Fay’s music in a 2024 interview with the Guardian, Tweedy stated, “There’s a simplicity and an magnificence to it. You instantly recognise that is one thing uncut by ambition and vogue; it’s simply any person humbly including their voice to contribute some magnificence in, and perhaps make peace with, the world.”