Andy Gill of Gang Of Four - RIP

Such horrible News
This is so hard for us to write, but our great friend and Supreme Leader has died today.

Andy’s final tour in November was the only way he was ever really going to bow out; with a Stratocaster around his neck, screaming with feedback and deafening the front row.

His uncompromising artistic vision and commitment to the cause meant that he was still listening to mixes for the upcoming record, whilst planning the next tour from his hospital bed.

But to us, he was our friend - and we’ll remember him for his kindness and generosity, his fearsome intelligence, bad jokes, mad stories and endless cups of Darjeeling tea. He just so happened to be a bit of a genius too.

One of the best to ever do it, his influence on guitar music and the creative process was inspiring for us, as well as everyone who worked alongside him and listened to his music. And his albums and production work speak for themselves. Go give ‘em a spin for him...

Love you mate.

John, Thomas and Tobias
GANG OF FOUR

 

Fantastic musician. RIP.

 

Wow, that's heavy news.
Very sad to hear. Thanks for all the beautiful music you gave to us. Rest in Peace.

 

NO WAY!!!!

 

Terrible news.

RIP.

 

Argh! One of the great guitarists of the post-punk... What a loss

 

I give a listen to the brillance of “entertainment” tonight.
I just can’t believe he left us that soon.
RIP

 

Didnt know he was ill, sad news

 

That's terrible....

 

Woah!.

 

Oh No. A gigantic talent and influence on music. Incalculable loss.

 

Gang of Four @ the Lyceum, London 1981

 

Sad news. Andy was a terrific guitarist and he really stood out in the late 70s. I saw Gang Of Four in Manchester at the time.
Time for a bit of Armalite Rifle:



RIP

 

One of the earliest 'champions' for THE RESIDENTS!
The Residents: Eskimo (Ralph)
Andy Gill, New Musical Express, 6 October 1979

I'M NOT altogether sure quite how to convey the magnitude of The Residents' achievement with Eskimo. What I am sure of is that it's without doubt one of the most important albums ever made, if not the most important, and that its implications are of such an unprecendentedly revolutionary nature that the weak-minded polemical posturings of purportedly "political" bands are positively bourgeois by comparison. Quite simply, The Residents are halfway up the ladder while the rest are still trying to find a place to put it so it won't fall over when they step on the bottom rung.

 

RIP Andy

 

The Post-punk era really was a game changer as far as guitar playing was concerned, and Andy Gill was one of the greats.

RIP

 

Sad news indeed. RIP.

 

Different Andy Gill I believe

 

wait...there are TWO 'Andy Gill's?
I thought the music critic was ALSO the member of Gang Of 4!

 

No, two different people. AG the journalist died last year - picture of them together here

Andy Gill, the witty chief music critic who didn’t pull his punches at The Independent

 

He had one of the gnarliest and painful guitar tones I've ever heard. After seeing one the '80 west coast shows @ The Starwood, my ears were ringing for days. Uneasy listening!
Gang Of Four - To Hell With Poverty - Live 1980

 

Well, I'll be jiggered!
You really DO learn something new every day!

 

Ouch. Ive only heard a few things but I have definitely enjoyed Entertainment. Ill have to dig it out.

RIP

 

Groundbreaking guitarist, took the instrument in so many different directions all within the same song. Saw them on their fist U.S. tour and they were galvanizing. Really nobody else like them at the time. RIP.