Karl Wallinger, the frontman of World Party who earlier played with The Waterboys, died Sunday, March 10 at 66. No cause or location was given by his publicist in the confirmation.
The Welsh-born songwriter wrote World Party’s Ship of Fools, Put the Message in the Box, Is it Like Today? and She’s the One, the latter covered by Robbie Williams in 1999.
Born Karl Edmond de Vere Wallinger, he began his musical career in various bands as a keyboard player, then took a job in music publishing, which was followed by a brief stint as the musical director of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Wallinger joined the Waterboys in 1983 and played on their first three albums as a multi-instrumentalist, including on its biggest hit, The Whole of the Moon.
He formed World Party in 1986 after leaving the Waterboys, Wallinger also worked on Sinéad O’Connor’s 1987 debut album, The Lion and the Cobra.
His first album release as World Party contained the hit Ship of Fools, which peaked at No 27 in the UK charts.
Wallinger suffered a brain aneurysm in February 2001. He was recovering for the next five years before returning to touring in 2006.
The Waterboys lead singer, Mike Scott, paid tribute to Wallinger on Monday in a social media post on X, calling him “one of the finest musicians I’ve ever known.” He added: “Travel on well my old friend.”
Wallinger is survived by his wife, Suzie Zamit, his son, Louis Wallinger, his daughter, Nancy Zamit, and two grandchildren.
