Psychedelic Furs: Saxophonist Mars Williams is dead

Family and friends mourn the saxophonist of the Psychedelic Furs and the Waitresses.

Saxophonist Mars Williams is dead. He died on Monday (November 20th) at the age of 68.

As the Chicago Tribune reports, Williams succumbed to ampullary cancer after being diagnosed nearly a year ago. The Psychedelic Furs, whose saxophonist he was, took to social media to say they were “deeply shocked.”

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The Psychedelic Furs’ most recent performance was at the Darker Waves music festival on November 18, two days before Williams’ death.

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With these words, family and friends say goodbye

Williams’ family shared the following statement:

“Dear friends, it is with great sadness that we share this news to inform the many people who loved and supported Mars Williams that he passed away today after his year-long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by family and friends, both personal and worldwide, who held him close and loved him deeply. Mars’ inexhaustible humor and energy, as well as his love of music, drove him forward until the end.

In late summer, when it became clear that his treatment options were running out, he decided to spend six weeks of his remaining time doing what he had done since he was a teenager – on tour, playing night after night. These final performances with the Psychedelic Furs will live on, along with all the other incredible contributions Mars made as a person and musician, and that boundless energy will continue to inspire. We will work to plan a celebration of his life that does justice to a hero to so many. We will send information about this as soon as possible.”

Mars Williams and Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs on stage at The Ritz, Manchester on July 2nd 2012 in Manchester. (Photo: Andrew Benge/Redferns via Getty Images)

Benefit concert for Mars Williams

A benefit concert for Williams called “Music For Mars” is currently scheduled for November 25th at the venue metro planned in Chicago. Artists performing there include Liquid Soul, the Joe Marcinek Band and Jesse De La Peña. Other guests include Richard Butler, Zachary Alford and Rich Good from the Psychedelic Furs, Jeff Coffin from the Dave Matthews Band, Richard Fortus from Guns N’ Roses and Ike Reilly.

More about Mars Williams

In 1980, Williams joined the Waitresses and worked on their debut album WASN’T TOMORROW WONDERFUL? with the new wave band from Ohio – as well as on the follow-up album BRUISEOLOGY.

When the Waitresses disbanded in 1983, Williams was quickly hired by the Psychedelic Furs for a tour before officially joining the band. He can be heard on the albums MIRROR MOVES from 1984 and MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT from 1987. Although he left the Psychedelic Furs in 1989, Williams returned in 2005 and recorded the saxophone for their 2020 comeback album MADE OF RAIN.

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In 1993, Williams founded the jazz fusion ensemble Liquid Soul together with guitarist Tommy Klein and DJ Jesse De La Peña. They released a total of six albums, with their third, 2000’s HERE’S THE DEAL, receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.

In the 1990s, Williams also joined the long-running free jazz group NRG Ensemble. Numerous artists have brought Williams into their projects over the years, including Billy IdolThe Power Station, The Killers, Ken Vandermark, Ministry, Jerry Garcia, Naked Raygun, Wayne Kramer, Witches & Devils and Dirty Projectors.

Andrew Benge Redferns via Getty Images

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