Stephen Luscombe, co-founder and keyboardist of 1980s synth-pop duo Blancmange, has died at the age of 70, his bandmate Neil Arthur announced on Instagram on Sunday.
Arthur posted a black-and-white photograph of Luscombe and wrote, "Heartbroken. RIP Stephen. Love you forever." The post drew messages of condolence from fans and fellow musicians.
Blancmange, formed in 1979 by Luscombe and Arthur, rose to prominence in the early 1980s with a string of hits including "Living on the Ceiling," "Waves," "Blind Vision" and "Don't Tell Me." The duo released three studio albums during that decade—Happy Families, Mange Tout and Believe You Me—which established them among the era's synth-pop acts.
The pair split in 1986 but reunited in the late 2000s, releasing a fourth studio album, Blanc Burn, in 2011. Luscombe left the band again after the album, citing health problems. In 2012 he said he had been unable to perform on several tour dates because of an abdominal aortic aneurysm and noted the condition was hereditary. A cause of death has not been disclosed.
After Luscombe stepped away, Arthur continued to record and tour under the Blancmange name with the assistance of session musicians. Arthur has spoken publicly about maintaining contact with Luscombe in later years and in 2022 said Luscombe had been "very seriously ill" and that he hoped his bandmate would recover.
Luscombe's musical interests and influences included Brian Eno, Can, Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa, and his work with Arthur is widely cited as central to Blancmange's distinctive blend of electronic textures and pop songwriting.
Blancmange's 1980s output has continued to receive attention for its production and melodic craft, and the band maintained a dedicated following through reunion performances and later releases. Fans responding to Arthur's post paid tribute to Luscombe's contributions to the group's sound and legacy.
No further details about Luscombe's death or arrangements have been released. Arthur's Instagram tribute, and public statements from those who worked with and admired Luscombe, reflected the impact of his career on peers and listeners alike.