Mick Karn

I've just stumbled across an upsetting article on http://www.side-line.com/ about Mick Karn the former bassist of the band Japan, and former ½ of Dalis Car (alongside Peter Murphey). In a statement on Karn's website it has been revealed that he has been diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer.


The statement reads:

“With great sadness we regret to inform you that Mick has recently been diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer. Mick is currently in a positive mood and undergoing further tests and treatment. His family and friends are close with him, supporting him in practical ways, and surrounding him with their love, friendship and care.

Mick has been struggling financially for some considerable time now and we are hoping that this appeal may help to raise funds for any necessary treatment and perhaps go some way towards providing a small degree of financial support whilst Mick's immediate family provide the care and comfort we would all wish for him. We are hoping that his friends, fans and musical colleagues will, over the coming months, offer any support they feel capable of giving. Quite aside from the sheer brunt of daunting medically-related costs, Mick's clear and major concern is for the security and well being of his wife and young son.

If you would like to make a donation whether as an individual or as a group, you can do so via the paypal link below which has been set up for this sole and express purpose. Any support you are able to give, no matter how small, could make a difference in helping Mick cope during this difficult period. His friends will be looking at a variety of ways to raise funds.

If you would simply like to leave your kind messages of support for Mick, please do so, here: Messages”

I've always thought of Karn as being somewhat under-appreciated by the wider music community. Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian's success somewhat overshadowed the rest of Japan who, as individuals as well as a unit, were truly talented and ground-breaking. I think that was proved the most by Mick Karn post-Japan when he collaborated with Peter Murphey on Dali's Car.



The news about Mick Karn has made me think a bit about electronic music in general. You may not have caught the Synth Britannia documentary on BBC4 yet (it's been repeated a few times, and I imagine it will be repeated a few times yet) it is a fantastic introduction to a rather complex field of music. Buter here is part one of nine courtesy of Youtube.




Get well soon Mick Karn
http://www.mickkarn.net/