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Senseless Things’ Mark Keds has died, former bandmate Ben Harding has confirmed.
The singer and guitarist was 50 years old and died during the early hours of this morning (January 10). A cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we have to tell you that, sadly, Mark – our singer, friend and main songwriter – is no longer with us,” Harding wrote in a Facebook group dedicated to the band.
“It’s no secret that he had struggled on and off with drug abuse and a pretty chaotic lifestyle for a long while, and his health suffered substantially over the years due to this. While this had sometimes created friction within the on-off workings of Senseless Things and his other projects, we choose to remember the friend, the brother and the talent we’ve lost today.”
Harding went on to say that Keds (real name Mark Myers) was “truly passionate about his musical calling” and cited his greatest talent as “exploring the everyday fucked-upness and absolute, unbounded joy of one-to-one relationships; of love, lust, loss, anger, grief and the ecstasy of the ordinary”.
“We love you, Mark,” he wrote. “It seems cliched to say ‘gone too soon’, but damn, it’s true. He was only 50. It’s no fucking age to die. Our love and thoughts go out to his friends, his family, his loved ones and the ones who loved him.” You can read Harding’s tribute in full here.
Senseless Things formed in London in 1986 and released five albums before they split in 1995. They reunited in 2007 for a one-off show in London – their first in over 12 years – and held two further shows in 2017. Around the latter gigs, they also released ‘Lost Honey’, their first new material in 22 years.
Recently, Keds was performing with his band Deadcuts, which he formed in 2012, and was previously a member of The Wildhearts. He also had a credit on The Libertines’ single ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’, which used a line from the single ‘Hey! Kitten’, which was released by Jolt, one of his many other projects.
Tributes have begun to be paid to Keds online. “Wow. Very sad to hear about Mark Keds’ passing,” Frank Turner wrote. “We chatted a few times about Deadcuts stuff, and ST were awesome. Real sadness.”
Wow. Very sad to har about Mark Keds' passing. We chatted a few times about Deadcuts stuff, and ST were awesome. Real sadness.
— Frank Turner (@frankturner) January 11, 2021
“Absolutely gutted to hear Mark Keds has died, only 50 and the Senseless Things were a huge part of the soundtrack of my youth,” wrote @thesaltiestcow. “Sleep well fella, thanks for the tunes.”
Absolutely gutted to hear Mark Keds has died, only 50 and the Senseless Things were a huge part of the soundtrack of my youth. Sleep well fella, thanks for the tunes
— The Salty Cow (@thesaltiestcow) January 11, 2021
See more tributes below.
Completely broken at the news of the death of Mark Keds. His music means the world to me and his style and charm left an indelible imprint.
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/P2nn0JbjSf— Darren Duran (@dazzledurazzle) January 11, 2021
Gutted to hear about the death of the prodigiously talented Mark Keds. Singer in Senseless Things and Deadcuts, writer of the toweringly wonderful Can't Stand Me Now, plus a varied and brilliant range of projects. Old friend. Goodbye, Keds. pic.twitter.com/XWvTbe1sy8
— Karen is freezing (@karensskitchen) January 11, 2021
Just heard the news about Mark Keds and feel like I've been punched in the gut. Such a genuinely sweet guy and underrated songwriter. RIP Mark Keds
— Bee
(@Flutterbee72) January 11, 2021
Absolutely gutted to hear about the passing of Mark Keds his words and music defined my youth and still iconic to this day. Big love Mark #senselessthings @SenselessTweetz pic.twitter.com/XpNUAqwRqG
— Mike Devine (@mike10devine) January 11, 2021
Gutted to hear of the passing of Mark Keds, singer/songwriter from one of my all time favourite bands, Senseless Things @SenselessTweetz Had the pleasure of catching them at one of their two comeback gigs in 2017. A sad day. Thanks for the tunes Mark.
— Matt Turpin (@mattturpin1979) January 11, 2021
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