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Tributes have poured in from across the music industry following the death of the lead singer of dance group Faithless, Maxi Jazz, aged 65.
In a tribute to the musician on social media, Faithless bandmates Sister Bliss and Rollo wrote: ‘We are heartbroken to say Maxi Jazz died peacefully at his home in South London last night.’
Jazz, whose real name was Maxwell Fraser, was born in Brixton in 1957 and went on to have a highly successful career as the frontman of Faithless and other groups and as a solo artist.
Fraser shared a video just four weeks ago on social media playing his guitar, revealing he was rehearsing new music.
‘New songs,’ he wrote. ‘Watch out world.’Â
The lead singer of electronic dance group Faithless, Maxi Jazz, has died aged 65
In a tribute to the musician, whose real name was Maxwell Fraser, Faithless bandmates Sister Bliss and Rollo wrote: ‘We are heartbroken to say Maxi Jazz died peacefully at his home in South London last night.’
Back in March, he revealed he was battling ‘health issues that had been impairing my ability to perform’.
‘I thought I might be on top of things but sadly not… I’ll let you know when I’ve regained sufficient oomph,’ he wrote on Instagram, adding that he had to cancel gigs.
Faithless is best known for the 1995 hit Insomnia which topped the UK dance charts and peaked at number three in the UK chart when it was re-released a year later.
The group wrote a number of other hit tracks together including We Come 1 and God Is A DJ.
As a solo artist Jazz collaborated with stars including Robbie Williams on 1 Giant Leap’s track My Culture and with Tiesto and Jamiroquai.
Maxi Jazz (right) with Faithless bandmate Sister Bliss (left) at a charity event in 2016
The band paid tribute to the lead singer on Twitter this afternoon, telling fans he ‘died peacefully in his sleep last night’
Faithless bandmate SIster Bliss paid tribute to Maxi Jazz on Twitter
Maxi Jazz (second-right) with Faithless bandmates Sister Bliss (right) and Rollo Armstrong in 1996
‘He was a man who changed our lives in so many ways. He gave proper meaning and message to our music,’ the band’s tribute continued.
‘He was also a lovely human being with time for everyone and a wisdom that was both profound and accessible. It was an honour and, of course, a true pleasure to work with him.
‘He was a brilliant lyricist, a DJ, a Buddhist, a magnificent stage presence, car lover, endless talker, beautiful person, moral compass and genius.
‘Rollo, Sister Bliss & The E-Type Boys.’
Jazz posted this message on his Instagram, informing fans he had been ‘battling’ health issues ‘that have been impairing my ability to perform’
Maxi was a lifelong supporter of Crystal Palace F.C. and became an associate director of the football club in 2012
The group is best known for the 1995 hit Insomnia which topped the UK dance charts and peaked at number three in the UK chart when it was re-released a year later
Pictured: Maxi Jazz with his brother and late mother ‘in simpler times’ as the musician described it
Faithless keyboard player Sister Bliss wrote on Twitter: ‘Maxi Jazz 1957 – 2022. We are heartbroken to share that Maxi died peacefully in his sleep last night.
‘Sending love to all of you who shared our musical journey. Look after each other y’hear.’
Maxi was a lifelong supporter of Crystal Palace F.C. and became an associate director of the football club in 2012.
In tribute to their late boss, the team will walk on to Faithless at their Boxing Day match against Fulham at Selhurst Park.Â
The club tweeted a tribute to him tonight, saying: ‘We are mourning the loss of legendary musician Maxi Jazz, who has passed away at the age of 65.
‘The team will walk out to Faithless on Boxing Day in tribute.’
The lead singer of electronic dance group Faithless, Maxi Jazz, has died aged 65
Pictured: The members of Faithless, Sister Bliss, Maxi Jazz & Dave Randall
Speaking to the Guardian in 2020 about his inspiration behind the band’s greatest hit, Insomnia, Jazz explained that the lyrics came to him ‘from personal experience’.
‘I didn’t suffer from insomnia, but I’d just had an abscess on my tooth. It was so painful it would keep me awake.Â
He added that the lines about having no electricity and reaching for the pen in the darkness also came from his ‘real life’, as he struggled to keep the electricity meter topped up before rocketing to fame and had to write by candle light.
On the song’s enduring popularity, he said he had not seen it taking off as it did. ‘It was a big shock for the song to be such a huge hit, but an even bigger shock that it’s still such a favourite.Â
‘If I had a quid for every time someone’s come up going, ‘I can’t get no sleep’, I’d be living on the space station.’Â
Born in Brixton, Jazz also fronted a band of musicians named Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys and released music with the group Soul Food Cafe
Faithless formed produced seven studio albums, with their most recent release, All Blessed, coming out in 2020.
They also released a number of compilation albums and have headlined some of the biggest festivals in the world, including on Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage in 2002.
Their sets were often seen as political in nature, and Jazz previously spoke out about having to change lyrics about smoking weed in hit Insomnia for being ‘too graphic’.
The group were nominated for the Brit Award for best British dance act in 1999 and 2002.
Born in Brixton, Jazz also fronted a band of musicians named Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys and released music with the group Soul Food Cafe.
A huge motor racing fan, Jazz was also known take part in races and in 2001 was involved in a crash which meant some Faithless tour dates had to be postponed.
Fraser shared a video just four weeks ago on social media playing his guitar, revealing he was rehearsing new musicÂ
Jazz fronting Faithless on the Pyramid Stage at the 2002 Glastonbury Festival
Reggae band UB40 remembered Jazz as a ‘lovely guy’ as they recalled touring with him in 2017 with his band Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys.
DJ David Pearce also reflected on how Faithless became an ‘iconic force in UK dance music from the mid 90s and touched so many lives’ yet throughout their rise to fame he felt Jazz remained a ‘warm, cool, friendly soul’, dubbing him ‘dance music’s poet’.Â
KISS FM broadcaster and DJ Judge Jules wrote on Twitter alongside a picture with the musician: ‘RIP Maxi Jazz what an incredible talent and a complete gent’.
Radio DJ MistaJam, whose real name is Peter Dalton, recalled meeting Jazz and coming away feeling like he was the ‘kindest man with such an aura about him’.
He added in his tribute on Twitter: ‘His words and performances touched so many of us and he’ll be sorely missed. Love to @thesisterbliss and the whole @faithless family. Rest in Power Maxi Jazz!’
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