Band pay tribute to “Pastor Dick”.

Richard Lyons, a founding member of experimental Bay Area pranksters Negativland, has died aged 57 from “complications due to nodular melanoma,” the band reports. His death on April 19, his birthday, follows the loss of Negativland members Ian Allen and Don Joyce, who both died in 2015.

A tribute posted to the band’s Facebook gave an insight into Lyons’ inspired contributions to the group:

“Known for his role in finding the Estus W. Pirkle LP sampled in Negativland’s 1987 ‘Christianity Is Stupid’ track (and, in turn, originating the idea of Negativland’s ax murder hoax), and for taking the wrecking yard photos that inspired the 2002 Negativland project ‘Deathsentences of the Polished and Structurally Weak,’ he was also known for such darkly funny and contrarian alter egos as his has-been radio personality Dick Vaughn, righteous religious preacher Pastor Dick, ace used car salesmen Dick Goodbody, master debater Dick Bush, good Christian lady Marsha Turnblatt and crazed DJ Jack Diekobisc (pronounced Dickobitch).

“His ‘actions’ on our Over the Edge radio show became the stuff of legend, crafting such memorable events as the 1982 ‘format change’ to an all-1970s-nostalgia station (documented on our ‘Dick Vaughn’s Moribund Music of the ‘70s’ release) and a disastrous ‘live broadcast’ from a Walnut Creek bowling alley on Thanksgiving, 2001 (soon to be released on CD as ‘Ultimate Pinsmack’).”

Formed in San Francisco, Negativland have been making music since the end of the 1970s, releasing several albums on the legendary SST label, but are also known for their brilliant pranks; in the 1990s they were sued by U2 after releasing an EP named after the group and containing a kazoo version of ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’.

The band confirmed they will go ahead with forthcoming live performances in May and a trio of forthcoming album projects.

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