808 State bassist and keyboard player Andrew Barker has died aged 53.
His death was confirmed in a post on the group’s official Twitter page, shared on Sunday, November 7.
“Its with a heavy heart to inform you of the passing of Andrew Barker,” it reads.
Its with a heavy heart to inform you of the passing of Andrew Barker . "His family and friends asks that people respect their privacy at this time but remember him for the joy he brought through his personality and music. You’ll be sadly missed” pic.twitter.com/cPR8W3byJl
— 808 State (@state808) November 7, 2021
“His family and friends asks that people respect their privacy at this time but remember him for the joy he brought through his personality and music. You’ll be sadly missed. [sic]”
808 state formed in 1988 Graham Massey, Martin Price and Gerald Simpson. Barker and Darren Partington, known as the Spinmasters, joined the acid house pioneers in ‘89, following Simpson’s departure.
Partington departed in 2015 after being jailed for 18 months for drug dealing.
808 State released their debut album ‘Newbuild’ in 1988 and produced a further five LPs, scoring hits including Pacific State, In Yer Face and The Only Rhyme That Bites.
Their last album, ‘Transmission Suite’, was released in 2019.
