Marc Charles Williams, better known as Mars Williams, the front-and-center saxophonist of ’80s New Wave bands The Waitresses and The Psychedelic Furs, died Nov. 20 of the rare and aggressive ampullary cancer in a Chicago hospice facility. He was 68.
His death was announced by his family on a GoFundMe page last month, but has more recently gained widespread attention. His brother Paul R. Williams confirmed the cause of death to The New York Times for an obituary posted today.
Following his initial stints in the Waitresses and Psychedelic Furs – both bands were early MTV favorites with videos often spotlighting the playful Williams, and he would reunite with the Furs throughout his life – the saxophonist went on to lead his own jazz ensembles including the influential, Grammy-nominated acid jazz group Liquid Soul in the 1990s.
A statement posted by his family on the GoFundMe page reads, in part, “Until the end, Mars’ inexhaustible humor and energy,...
His death was announced by his family on a GoFundMe page last month, but has more recently gained widespread attention. His brother Paul R. Williams confirmed the cause of death to The New York Times for an obituary posted today.
Following his initial stints in the Waitresses and Psychedelic Furs – both bands were early MTV favorites with videos often spotlighting the playful Williams, and he would reunite with the Furs throughout his life – the saxophonist went on to lead his own jazz ensembles including the influential, Grammy-nominated acid jazz group Liquid Soul in the 1990s.
A statement posted by his family on the GoFundMe page reads, in part, “Until the end, Mars’ inexhaustible humor and energy,...
- 12/22/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Psychedelic Furs have released a music video for “Wrong Train,” a track off the new wave outfit’s 2020 album, Made of Rain.
The black-and-white clip was directed by photographer and filmmaker Hans Neleman, who drew inspiration from paintings made by Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler. The clip comprises a compelling collage centered around sequences in which Butler covers his face in paint. The photos and videos that Neleman and Butler made were then handed over to Peter Sebastian, who digitally manipulated them for the final cut.
“‘Wrong Train’ explores...
The black-and-white clip was directed by photographer and filmmaker Hans Neleman, who drew inspiration from paintings made by Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler. The clip comprises a compelling collage centered around sequences in which Butler covers his face in paint. The photos and videos that Neleman and Butler made were then handed over to Peter Sebastian, who digitally manipulated them for the final cut.
“‘Wrong Train’ explores...
- 3/1/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me By Your Name” made the already iconic Psychedelic Furs ’80s classic “Love My Way” iconic once again in 2017. It’s most famously used in the summery gay romance as Oliver (Armie Hammer) and Elio (Timothée Chalamet) dance an endless night away in an Italian club, and when the film was released it jumpstarted the biggest streaming week ever for the song.
In a new interview with USA Today, the band’s co-frontman Richard Butler looked back on their output’s use in pop culture, in both “Call Me By Your Name” and John Hughes’ 1986 Brat Pack favorite “Pretty in Pink,” named after another one of their hit songs.
“Once I heard ‘Call Me By Your Name’ had ‘Love My Way’ in it, I went to go see it,” Butler said. “I was surprised the amount of times you hear the song in [the film], and there’s...
In a new interview with USA Today, the band’s co-frontman Richard Butler looked back on their output’s use in pop culture, in both “Call Me By Your Name” and John Hughes’ 1986 Brat Pack favorite “Pretty in Pink,” named after another one of their hit songs.
“Once I heard ‘Call Me By Your Name’ had ‘Love My Way’ in it, I went to go see it,” Butler said. “I was surprised the amount of times you hear the song in [the film], and there’s...
- 8/1/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
At the end of the month, the Psychedelic Furs will release Made of Rain, their first new album in nearly three decades. On Thursday, they released a video for “Come All Ye Faithful,” the latest offering from the LP.
Directed by Imogen Harrison, the black-and-white video features a woman in a long, silk dress, walking barefoot through the woods. She walks over railroad tracks, runs through fields and ends up on the shore of a beach. “Come all ye playboys, you saints and sinners,” frontman Richard Butler sings. “And watch it rain on,...
Directed by Imogen Harrison, the black-and-white video features a woman in a long, silk dress, walking barefoot through the woods. She walks over railroad tracks, runs through fields and ends up on the shore of a beach. “Come all ye playboys, you saints and sinners,” frontman Richard Butler sings. “And watch it rain on,...
- 7/23/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
The Psychedelic Furs dropped a haunting new track “Come All Ye Faithful,” the latest single from their upcoming LP Made of Rain, out July 31st via Cooking Vinyl.
Accompanied by a video that features the song’s lyrics and the Made of Rain vinyl over a purple hue, Richard Butler sings over crunching guitar and horns. “When I said I loved you well I lied,” he seethes. “I never really loved you I was laughing at you all the time/When I said I needed you I lied/I never...
Accompanied by a video that features the song’s lyrics and the Made of Rain vinyl over a purple hue, Richard Butler sings over crunching guitar and horns. “When I said I loved you well I lied,” he seethes. “I never really loved you I was laughing at you all the time/When I said I needed you I lied/I never...
- 6/24/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
The Psychedelic Furs dropped a scorching new single Monday — “No-One,” off of their upcoming LP, Made of Rain, out July 31st on Cooking Vinyl.
“Who’s gonna wear your crown, no one/The queens of the underground or no one,” frontman Richard Butler sings against a crunchy guitar riff. “The sirens will never sing/Just silence in everything.”
“No-One” follows the lead single, “Don’t Believe,” and “You’ll Be Mine.” Made of Rain marks the New Wave band’s first new album in 29 years, after 1991’s World Outside. The...
“Who’s gonna wear your crown, no one/The queens of the underground or no one,” frontman Richard Butler sings against a crunchy guitar riff. “The sirens will never sing/Just silence in everything.”
“No-One” follows the lead single, “Don’t Believe,” and “You’ll Be Mine.” Made of Rain marks the New Wave band’s first new album in 29 years, after 1991’s World Outside. The...
- 4/20/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
The Psychedelic Furs have dropped a stark new song, “You’ll Be Mine.” The track is the second single from the band’s upcoming LP Made of Rain, their first album in 29 years.
“You’ll Be Mine” opens with the chaotic strumming of an electric guitar, as the piano enters with Richard Butler’s vocals: “Don’t be surprised when every second has its place/Don’t be surprised at all.”
Made of Rain drops on May 1st via Cooking Vinyl. It’s currently available for preorder, including a double...
“You’ll Be Mine” opens with the chaotic strumming of an electric guitar, as the piano enters with Richard Butler’s vocals: “Don’t be surprised when every second has its place/Don’t be surprised at all.”
Made of Rain drops on May 1st via Cooking Vinyl. It’s currently available for preorder, including a double...
- 3/13/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
The Psychedelic Furs have announced their first new album in 29 years. Titled Made of Rain, the record will be released on May 1st via Cooking Vinyl.
The New Wave band also dropped the album’s lead single, “Don’t Believe.” “Life is short and God is gold/And promises are bought and sold,” Richard Butler sings over blaring guitar, “And everything I never said/Comes crashing on my tiny head.”
The Furs will perform Made of Rain in its entirety — as well as hits that include “Love My Way” and...
The New Wave band also dropped the album’s lead single, “Don’t Believe.” “Life is short and God is gold/And promises are bought and sold,” Richard Butler sings over blaring guitar, “And everything I never said/Comes crashing on my tiny head.”
The Furs will perform Made of Rain in its entirety — as well as hits that include “Love My Way” and...
- 1/31/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
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