Living In A Box Singer Richard Darbyshire Passes Away at 65

Richard Darbyshire, the renowned singer of the hit song “Living In A Box,” has passed away at the age of 65. His death has left a profound impact on fans and the music industry alike.

Early Life and Education

Darbyshire was born in Stockport, Cheshire. He spent his early years in Manchester before moving to Japan with his parents at the age of 13. There, he attended an American boarding school.

Darbyshire eventually returned to the UK and studied English Literature at Oxford University. His passion for music led him to join the Manchester band Zu Zu Sharks, which featured bassist Gary Tibbs.

Musical Career Highlights

In 1983, Zu Zu Sharks released a synth-pop single titled “Love Tumbles Down,” which achieved minor success in Europe. However, Darbyshire left the band shortly thereafter.

While working on solo material, he encountered drummer Anthony “Tich” Critchlow and keyboard player Marcus Vere in Sheffield. They were developing a demo for “Living In A Box” and invited him to join as the lead vocalist.

Success with Living in a Box

The collaboration led to a significant milestone for the band, culminating in a five-album record deal. Their self-titled song “Living In A Box” became a Top 20 hit in the U.S. Its chart performance was remarkable; the song was described as the fastest single release for the record label in four years.

• First single: “Living In A Box”
• Chart success: Top 20 hit in the U.S.
• Notable collaboration: Bobby Womack later recorded a version of the song and duetted with Darbyshire on “So the Story Goes.”

For their second album, “Gatecrashing,” the band collaborated with Queen’s Brian May, who contributed to the track “Blow The House Down,” their last top 10 hit in 1989.

Later Years and Legacy

Although Living in a Box disbanded before completing their third album, some unreleased tracks were featured on Darbyshire’s 1994 solo album “Better to Have Lost.” The band reformed in 2016, featuring replacement vocalist Kenny Thomas and later Bryan Chambers.

Before his passing, Darbyshire was actively conducting songwriting workshops in London. He is survived by his wife, vocal coach Sonia Jones.

His former bandmates shared heartfelt tributes on Instagram, describing him as a “reluctant pop star” who preferred the creative process over public appearances. They recalled, “He was happiest in the studio, guitar in hand, working on the next song.” Richard Darbyshire’s contributions to music will be remembered by fans and musicians alike.