Figures from across the entertainment industry have paid tribute to Faithless singer Maxi Jazz, who has died at the age of 65.
Maxi's own bandmates led the way, calling the frontman a "lovely human being with time for everyone", with band UB40 and singer Dido also paying tribute. His football club, Crystal Palace, said the team would walk out to a Faithless track on Boxing Day in tribute.
Faithless formed in 1995 and produced seven studio albums, with their most recent release being 2020’s All Blessed.
They also released a number of compilation albums and have headlined some of the biggest festivals in the world, including on Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage in 2002.
UB40, who toured with Maxi's band, Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys, described him as "lovely guy" who has "gone too soon".
Here with Me singer Dido said: "It was an absolute honour to know you, be inspired by you, listen to you and sing with you. Your voice and words will never leave my head."
Radio DJ MistaJam, whose real name is Peter Dalton, recalled meeting Maxi and coming away feeling like he was the “kindest man with such an aura about him”.
He added in his tribute on Twitter : “His words and performances touched so many of us and he’ll be sorely missed. Love to @thesisterbliss and the whole @faithless family. Rest in Power Maxi Jazz!”
DJ David Pearce also reflected on how Faithless became an “iconic force in UK dance music from the mid 90s and touched so many lives” yet throughout their rise to fame he felt Maxi remained a “warm, cool, friendly soul”, dubbing him “dance music’s poet”.
Maxi's band Faithless also paid tribute to their late bandmate this evening, tweeting: "We are heartbroken to say Maxi Jazz died peacefully in his sleep last night. He was a man who changed our lives in so many ways.
"He gave proper meaning and a message to our music.
He was a lovely human being with time for everyone and wisdom that was both profound and accessible.
"It was an honour and, of course, a true pleasure to work with him. He was a brilliant lyricist, DJ, Buddhist, a magnificent stage presence, car lover, endless talker, beautiful person, moral compass and genius.
Maxi was also a lifelong supporter of Crystal Palace FC and was made an associate director of the football club in 2012.
The official Twitter account of the club described Jazz as a “legendary musician” and said the team would walk out to a Faithless track on Boxing Day in tribute.
Sister Bliss paid tribute to her fellow band member on Twitter by sharing a black and white photo of him and writing: "Maxi Jazz 1957 – 2022. We are heartbroken to share that Maxi died peacefully in his sleep last night.
“Sending love to all of you who shared our musical journey. Look after each other y’hear.”
Born in Brixton, London in 1967, Maxi founded The Soul Food Cafe System as a DJ in 1984, having discovered hip hop a year earlier, before going on to meet Rollo Armstrong in a studio and forming the group Faithless with Sister Bliss joining the core line-up.
