Ollie Olsen, the maverick Australian post-punk and electronic music innovator, died on Wednesday after a long struggle with multiple system atrophy, a rare neurological disease which he “fought like a Viking”, according to a statement shared on his social media accounts. He was 66.
Olsen – who changed his name legally from Ian Christopher Olsen to Ollie Jngbert Christian Olsen in the early 90s – had been inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame earlier this month, with the organisation describing him as “a true artist and visionary in every sense of the word”. He was no chart-topper, but was deeply respected by musicians who bothered them more regularly; notably, the only time Michael Hutchence stepped outside INXS was to collaborate with Olsen.
