Written by: Alex Green

Stephen Luscombe, who co-founded the synth-pop band Blancmange has died.

The Middlesex-born multi-instrumentalist was 70.

Luscombe attended the Harrow School of Art and in 1979 he formed Blancmange along with Neil Arthur and Laurence Stevens.

Over the course of their career, the Harrow band released close to twenty albums, including 1982’s Happy Families and 1984’s Mange Trout. They had four top-20 singles in the UK, including “Waves” and “Living On The Ceiling.”

Blancmange broke up in 1986 but reformed in 2011 and from there went on a creative tear, releasing albums like Commuter 23 and Unfurnished Rooms.

Luscombe retired in 2012, citing an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which he revealed was a genetic condition.

In a statement to The Mirror, Arthur wrote:”Heartbroken. RIP Stephen. Love you forever.”