Blancmange’s Stephen Luscombe dies aged 70

Blancmange’s Stephen Luscombe has died, aged 70.

His former bandmate, Neil Arthur, paid tribute to the musician on the group’s social media on Sunday, writing: “Heartbroken. RIP Stephen. Love you forever.”

Luscombe was born in Middlesex on 29 October 1954. He studied at the University of Westminster’s Harrow School of Art in London. Connected by a shared admiration for Brian Eno, Can, Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa, the pair formed Blancmange at the tail end of the 1970s.

When Classic Pop met the band’s founding members in 2017, they were in a reflective mood, laughing about the name ‘Blancmange’. “Even today I cannot believe that we did it,” Luscombe smiled. “We weren’t ambitious, we were just having a laugh and getting paid for it!

“I still can’t believe it happened and that we were so lucky to start with.”

Experimental Approach

Exploring an experimental approach, the duo released their debut EP, Irene & Mavis, in 1980. After their instrumental track Sad Day appeared on the compilation Some Bizzare Album, they signed to London Records and enjoyed minor success with their 1982 double A-side single God’s Kitchen / I’ve Seen The Word.

Their mainstream breakthrough came in the autumn of 1982, when the single Living On The Ceiling reached No.7 on the UK Singles Chart. The duo went on to achieve further hits with Waves (No.19), Blind Vision (No.10), and Don’t Tell Me (No.8), releasing three acclaimed studio albums: Happy Families (1982), Mange Tout (1984), and Believe You Me (1985).

Chalk And Cheese

“Me and Stephen, we’re like chalk and cheese,” Neil told Classic Pop in that same interview. “When that’s constructive it’s really good, but when it’s destructive you haven’t got a chance. I could see something was wrong but couldn’t stand far enough back to see what it was.”

After seven years of making music together, Blancmange decided to prioritise their friendship over continuing their career and announced their split in June 1986, following a concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

A quarter of a century later, Blancmange reunited and released their fourth studio album, Blanc Burn, in March 2011. However, Stephen was unable to tour because of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. “I got pretty ill,” he told Classic Pop. “I had angina so had to watch my blood pressure. So touring was out – I’d just be too nervous.”

Paying Tribute

When Stephen stepped back, Neil continued recording and performing under the Blancmange name.

Speaking to Classic Pop ahead of the 2017 remastered reissues of their first three albums, Stephen reflected: “It’s amazing when you look at this retrospective. We were stupid arseholes basically, just having a laugh, and I always used to say, ‘Do people really like us?’”

Among those paying tribute on social media were the official accounts of Boy George and Soft Cell.

Boy George wrote on X: “Yesterday we said goodbye to Stephen Luscombe from Blancmange. He was also in The West India Company, and we went to India together, which was amazing. We recorded with legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle, who later sang on Bow Down Mister. We worked with a 100-piece Indian orchestra, caused riots in the Hare Krishna temple, and recorded a version of ABBA’s I Have A Dream which never came out. Stephen, along with Neil Arthur, made one of the most seminal electro tracks, Living On The Ceiling. Bye Stephen. Legend!”

Soft Cell posted on Facebook: “The Soft Cell team are all very sad to hear of the passing of Stephen Luscombe of Blancmange, and send our condolences both to his family and friends, as well as to Neil Arthur at this time. Stephen was a unique, talented, and innovative musician, and leaves a rich back catalogue of Eastern-influenced electronica as his legacy.”

Classic Pop extends its condolences to Stephen’s family, friends, and fans.

Featured image credit: David Corio/Redferns/Getty

Read our full 2017 Blancmange interview here