Karl Wallinger, the musician best known for his stints with bands World Party and the Waterboys, has died aged 66.
It has been reported that Wallinger died on Sunday (March 10), with no cause of death revealed at the time of writing.
Having started out as a keyboardist with several bands, Wallinger also had a brief tenure as musical director for The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
He eventually joined the Waterboys in 1983, where he played a key role in three albums in that decade, including their 1985 record ‘This Is The Sea’, which includes the single, ‘The Whole Of The Moon’.
However, it was Wallinger’s work with World Party that he is perhaps best known for, having fronted the band after leaving the Waterboys in 1987.
Their debut album ‘Private Revolution’ arrived that same year, featuring the single ‘Ship of Fools’.
RIP KARL WALLINGER 1957-2024, 80s Waterboys member & long-time leader of his own band World Party, who died March 10. Karl was an integral part of The Waterboys from 1983 thru 1985 & made many powerful contributions to the music. Condolences to his family from all of us. pic.twitter.com/gTAg3mZQte
— Waterboys HQ (@WaterboysMusic) March 12, 2024
Collaborations
During his time with World Party, Karl Wallinger also collaborated with Sinead O’Connor, providing vocals on the late singer’s album ‘The Lion and the Cobra’.
She also sang backing vocals on World Party’s first two albums.
Wallinger also featured on Peter Gabriel’s 2008 album ‘Big Blue Ball’, which was recorded in the 1990s.
World Party went on to record four more albums until 2000, including successful records ‘Put The Message In The Box’, and ‘Is It Like Today’.
Wallinger also contributed music to the soundtrack for 1995 film Clueless, as well as working as a musical director for Reality Bites, a year earlier.
He is survived by his wife Suzie Zamit, his son Louis Wallinger, daughter Nancy Zamit, and two grandchildren.
The Waterboys have been scheduled to support Crowded House on stage at Cork’s Musgrave Park this Summer.
