Graeme Naysmith, co-founder and guitarist of the beloved British alternative rock and shoegaze band, Pale Saints, has passed away at the age of 57. The news was revealed in a Facebook post shared by his more recent project, the X-Ray Eyes, on April 4. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.
Pale Saints emerged in Leeds, with Naysmith, singer-bassist Ian Masters and drummer Chris Cooper forming the trio. Naysmith played a crucial role in the band’s sound, merging Masters’ shoegaze-tone vocals with noisy indie-pop. Pale Saints’ music was hugely popular in the early 1990s, allowing the band to sign to 4AD records and eventually deliver a few of the period’s finest albums.
Pale Saints released two successful albums in the 90s, including ‘The Comforts of Madness’ in 1990 and ‘In Ribbons’ in 1992. The band’s version of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘Kinky Love’ which featured Lush singer Meriel Barham, became a minor hit.
In a tribute on the 4AD website, label founder Ivo Watts-Russell shared his love for Naysmith’s guitar playing. “He was one of only a handful of musicians I worked with who wasn’t afraid of a good guitar solo,” he said. A flood of messages followed this news on social media, where fans joined together to pay tribute to Naysmith’s talent and contribution to music.
Naysmith was remembered by his band members in a heartfelt statement: “We managed to record a load of new songs with Jock over the last few years, hopefully, they’ll be released in the future.” The statement also highlighted Naysmith’s kind personality and his adored status among his loved ones
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