Half Japanese co-founder proved music needed no rules.
David Fair, the co-founder of the influential outré punk duo Half Japanese, has died at the age of 74 following a battle with cancer.
His brother and bandmate, Jad Fair, confirmed the news on Facebook, sharing an uncaptioned photo of the pair together.
Formed in 1974, Half Japanese emerged from bedroom recordings that defied all musical conventions, releasing their debut album 1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts in 1980 to cult acclaim.
David later published How to Play Guitar, a manifesto rejecting traditional technique with the famous line: “If you ignore the chords your options are infinite and you can master guitar playing in one day.”
The band’s influence stretched far beyond their scrappy origins, with Kurt Cobain inviting them to open dates on Nirvana’s In Utero tour.
After decades of shifting lineups and a hiatus, the brothers reunited in 2012 for All Tomorrow’s Parties festival and released the reunion album Overjoyed in 2014.
Travis McElroy of Thick Syrup label wrote: “David was one of those people who showed you that music didn’t have to follow any rules.”
