John Waddington, founder and guitarist of the post-punk band The Pop Group, died on Tuesday. He was 63 years old.
The team announced Waddington’s death on Wednesday on Twitteralthough no reason was given.
“An influential musician and integral member of the group, John has contributed to some of the band’s most iconic recordings,” the band wrote on Twitter.
“We are going to greatly miss his energy and friendship, and his unforgettable musicality will at all times be remembered,” they added.
The Post contacted a representative of The Pop Group for comment.
Teammate Gareth Sager, 62, also tweeted old photo with Waddington on Wednesday.
![John Waddington, founder and guitarist of the post-punk band The Pop Group, died on Tuesday at the age of 63.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000013009010.jpg?w=1024)
Formed in Bristol, England in 1977, The Pop Group released their first album “Y” two years later which featured the single “She Is Beyond Good and Evil”.
![John Waddington performs with The Pop Group 1980.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000013008705.jpg?w=1024)
![The undated photo shows John Waddington, Mark Stewart and Dan Catsis of The Pop Group.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000013008858.jpg?w=1024)
Waddington played on this album in addition to the band’s 1980 release, “How for much longer will we tolerate mass murder?” which was home to “We’re All Hookers”.
The Pop Group combined punk, reggae, funk and free jazz with radical politics to turn out to be one of the most influential groups in the post-punk era.
The group disbanded in 1981, and Waddington later joined Maximum Joy on their 1982 debut album “Station MXJY”.
He has also performed music with Judy Nylon and On-U Sound related projects including Recent Age Steppers and African Head Charge.
Sager members Bruce Smith and frontman Mark Stewart – the last one which died in April aged 62, he reunited the band in 2010 and released two more studio albums, Citizen Zombie and Honeymoon on Mars.
They launched into tours in the United States, Japan, Australia and Europe, including two sets at Glastonbury.