Greg Kihn, known for the early ’80s power pop hits “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)” and “Jeopardy,” has died at the age of 75.
The news was confirmed in a statement on the musician’s official website, which states that he died on August 13 from complications caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
“Known for his magnetic stage presence and unique storytelling that captivated audiences around the world. He was not just a musician, but a cultural phenomenon whose influence will resonate for generations to come,” it reads.
Kihn fronted The Greg Kihn Band for nearly five decades, and their most popular hit, “Jeopardy,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, was parodied by “Weird Al” Yankovic with his “I Lost On Jeopardy” in 1984.
He was born on July 10, 1949 in Baltimore and was inspired to a career in music by the Beatles’ legendary performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
He signed to Berserkley Records in 1973, sharing the label with artists like Jonathan Richman and The Rubinoos, quickly becoming associated with the Bay Area’s power pop sound.
“We weren’t like other SF bands,” he said in 2018. “Our music was inspired by British bands like The Who and The Faces. We were always writing new songs and the fans would come back week after week to see what we had created. It was all about the songs, not the jams.”
He released his self-titled debut album in 1976 and maintained a prolific output over the next decade.
He also became a successful novelist, writing four horror novels, beginning with Horror show in 1996, which was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel.
Kihn said he was grateful to Yankovic for his parody of his most famous song, acknowledging that it helped his composition live on in the collective memory longer than it otherwise might have.
“I loved his version of ‘I Lost on Jeopardy,’” he said. “It was a brilliant parody. Al is a very talented musician. He invited me to appear in his video and I had a great time. God bless that man! I still get mailbox money from Weird Al!”
Kihn is survived by his wife Jay Arafiles-Kihn, son Ryan, daughter Alexis and two grandchildren.
