Cyprus-born Mick Karn (born Andonis Michaelides) found notoriety in the early ‘80s as the bassist of new wave band Japan. He is noted for his distinctive, “rubbery” fretless bass sound and saxophone playing, both of which became a staple of Japan’s sound from 1979’s Quiet Life onwards. The band was short-lived, however, breaking up in 1982, almost immediately after they had first found significant commercial success, and subsequently Karn pursued other avenues.

Since Japan’s demise, he has since collaborated with huge names such as Kate Bush, Level 42, Diana Ross and Peter Murphy, with whom he established Dali’s Car. He has also since collaborated with the former members of Japan, forming the band JBK with Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri, and the three even reunited with Sylvian in 1991 under the name Rain Tree Crow.

At the same time as he was pursuing his musical career, Karn also began to take up an interest in painting and clay sculpture, of which one was used in the sleeve of Kajagoogoo’s Islands.

Karn continued to make music until June 2010, when he announced that he had been diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer. He died on 4 January 2011.