Published
Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 20:45
- He joined the pioneering UK group in 1989 and remained one of its core members since.
Andy Barker from UK acid house group 808 State died in his hometown of Manchester this weekend.
The news was announced via the band's official Twitter account. The cause of death has not yet been revealed, and 808 State says that "his family and friends [ask] that people respect their privacy at this time."
Barker was one of the core members of 808 State up until his death, co-piloting the group with founder Graham Massey for their most recent album, 2019's Transmission Suite. He originally joined the band in 1989, following the release of their mega-hit "Pacific State" and the departure of A Guy Called Gerald from the group.
Barker's first release with 808 State was 1989's Quadrastate, and he was a key part of the group's most successful album, 1991's ex:el, which featured collaborations with Björk and New Order's Bernard Sumner. The band were one of the most important acts in the UK acid house scene, and helped to define the country's crossover-leaning dance music scene through the late '80s and into the '90s.
Before Barker joined 808 State, he was part of a duo called the Spinmasters with Darren Partington, and was a regular DJ in and around Manchester.
Listen to "Spanish Heart."
A number of dance music figures paid tribute to Barker on social media.