The Residents co-founder Hardy Fox died at the age of 73. The leader of the influential art-rock group had been diagnosed with brain cancer.
Fox’s role in the largely anonymous avant-garde collective known as The Residents was confirmed after his retirement in 2015. A Texas-native, after attending college Hardy relocated to San Francisco where he helped form the group in the 1960s. The Residents’ live performances typically feature the members wearing signature top hats and eyeball masks. Their first album was 1974’s Meet The Residents. More than 60 subsequent albums have been released over the past several decades.
A statement on The Residents’ website reads:
It is with great sorrow and regret that The Cryptic Corporation announces the passing of longtime associate, Hardy Fox. As president of the corporation from 1982-2016, the company benefited from Hardy’s instinct for leadership and direction, but his true value came from his longtime association with The Residents. As the group’s producer, engineer, as well as collaborator on much of their material, Fox’s influence on The Residents was indelible; despite any formal training, his musicality was nevertheless unique, highly refined and prolific. Blessed with a vital sense of aesthetics, a keen ear, and an exquisite love of the absurd, Hardy’s smiling face was a constant source of joy to those around him. He will be missed.
After a series of recent health problems, Hardy succumbed to a brief illness. He is survived by his husband, Steven Kloman.
