Latest Stories- Pulp announce death of bass player Steve Mackey – paying tribute to their ‘beloved friend’ | Ents & Arts News

Pulp bass player Steve Mackey has died at the age of 56, the band has announced, paying tribute to a "beloved friend" who "made things happen".The Sheffield band, who rose to

prominence with their fourth and fifth albums His 'N' Hers and Different Class in the 1990s, said the musician died on Thursday. On Mackey's own Instagram page, his wife Katie

posted her own tribute and said he had been in hospital for three months.Sharing a photograph on Instagram taken on tour during 2012, the band said: "Our beloved friend & bass

player Steve Mackey passed away this morning. Our thoughts are with his family & loved ones."This photo of Steve dates from when Pulp were on tour in South America in 2012. We

had a day off & Steve suggested we go climbing in the Andes. So we did."Describing the trek as "a completely magical experience", the tribute continued: "Far more magical than

staring at the hotel room wall all day (which is probably what we'd have done otherwise). Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:38 Watch Pulp bassist Steve

Mackey in Common People "Steve made things happen. In his life & in the band... we'd very much like to think that he's back in those mountains now, on the next stage of his

adventure."Safe travels, Steve. We hope to catch up with you one day."Mercury Prize and an Ivor Novello award for Different Class and Common People Image: L-R: Pulp's Nick Banks,

Candida Doyle, Mark Webber, Mackey and Cocker, with the award for outstanding song collection during the 62nd Annual Ivor Novello Music Awards in 2017 Mackey joined Pulp, fronted

by Jarvis Cocker, in the late 1980s, in time for their third album, Separations. In 1994, the band released its fourth album, His 'N' Hers, which was nominated for the Mercury

Prize later that year.Two years later, fifth album Different Class - featuring hits including Common People, Something Changes, Disco 2000, Mis-Shapes and Sorted For E's & Wizz

- went on to win the prestigious award.Common People also earned the band an Ivor Novello award in 1996, and in 2017 they were awarded by the Ivors Academy for their outstanding

song collection.In 1995, the group became a late replacement for The Stone Roses to headline that year's Glastonbury Festival and went on to play one of the most memorable sets in

the event's history. In 2011, following a hiatus, their comeback "secret" set drew one of the biggest crowds ever to the festival's Park Stage.Read more: Pulp announce gigs for

2023 more than 10 years since last live showsIn 2022, after another long break, Cocker announced the band would be playing live shows in 2023, with gigs in London and Sheffield,