Mars Williams, Saxophonist of The Psychedelic Furs, Dead of Cancer at 68: ‘Boundless Energy Will Continue to Inspire’

Mars Williams, the famous saxophonist of the new wave bands The Psychedelic Furs and The Waitresses, has died at the age of 68.

The Chicago Tribune first broke the news on Monday, confirming that the Chicago musician died that morning of ampullary cancer after being diagnosed nearly a year ago. Williams’ family also later shared a statement, saying he was “surrounded by family and friends” at the time of his death.

The jazz artist — who played in the short-lived punk new wave band The Waitresses from 1980 to 1983 and The Psychedelic Furs for six years in the ’80s before rejoining the group in 2005 — has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that affects the digestive system in December 2022, according to a GoFundMe his family set up to help cover medical expenses.

Mars Williams performs with The Psychedelic Furs.

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Williams’ family took to the platform to share a statement about his death. “Dear friends,” the statement began, “it is with great sadness that we send this message to inform the many people who loved and supported Mars Williams that he passed away earlier today after a year-long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by family and friends, both personally and around the world, who held him by his side and loved him very much.”

The statement goes on to talk about Williams’ passion for music and long-running career — which he’s continued this year on the road with The Psychedelic Furs and at home in Chicago, where he’s played weekly gigs with jazz ensemble Extraordinary Popular Delusions.

“Until the end, Mars’ inexhaustible humor and energy and his love for music pushed him forward,” his family wrote. “When it became clear in the late summer that his treatment options were coming to an end, he decided to spend the six weeks he had left living like a teenager – out on the road performing night after night. Those final performances with the Psychedelic Furs will live on with all the other incredible contributions Mars has made as a person and as a musician, and that boundless energy will continue to inspire.”

Mars Williams and Rico Love of The Psychedelic Furs.

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The “Love My Way” band also shared a note about Williams’ death with posts on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. The group shared an imaginary photo of a saxophone sitting under spotlights on stage, overlooking a dark hall, and captioned it how “heartbroken” they were.

“Our hearts are broken 💔”, wrote The Psychedelic Furs. “Goodbye to the great Mars Williams. Rest well.”

The artist was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1955, where he played clarinet for years and studied jazz at DePaul University before moving to New York where he connected with The Waitresses and eventually The Psychedelic Furs. With The Waitresses, Williams played on songs like “Christmas Wrapping” and “I Know What Boys Like,” earning him his first Billboard Hot 100 hit.

After the group broke up, he met the group “Heaven” through the New York scene and joined them on tour. During their time together in the ’80s, which lasted from 1983 to 1989, he appeared on acclaimed records such as 1984’s Mirror Moves and in 1987 From midnight to midnight. Since they reunited in 2005, he also played on their latest release, 2020. Made of rain.

The rocker also spent more than two decades playing in the Grammy-nominated jazz-funk group Liquid Soul and performed and recorded with such iconic acts as Billy Idol, Jerry Garcia, The Killers and many more.

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In 2021, Williams reflected on his career in an interview with Chicago radio station CHIRP. He said: “My career would probably have moved more towards the jazz scene with a focus on that — joining The Waitresses suddenly opened up all these other doors for me with the new wave scene and the punk scene and things that were happening in New York at the time .”

He also discussed his reunion with The Psychedelic Furs in a 2009 interview with UK-based Penny Black Music. “I came back with the Furs in 2005. We were all older. We were friends for so long. We left the dissatisfaction behind. I love being back in the band,” said the saxophonist. “They didn’t have a horn after that. Richard Butler said, ‘Wow. This is what was missing.’ It’s a really good vibe. It’s a good group of guys. We’re having fun.”

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Source: HIS Education