UK: Music Journalism Community Mourns the Loss of Esteemed Critic, Author, and Writer for Melody Maker, The Wire, and The Quietus
Neil Kulkarni, a revered music journalist known for his work in Melody Maker, The Wire, and The Quietus, died unexpectedly on Monday afternoon, January 22, 2024, in Coventry, England. He was 51 years old at the time of his tragic demise.
What happened to Neil Kulkarni?
Neil Kulkarni passed away on Monday, January 22, 2024, in Coventry, England, his hometown. He was 51 years old at the time of his sudden passing. It is suspected that he suffered a cardiac arrest, which claimed his life.
His band Moonbears announced the sad news in a post on social media and paid tribute to honour his memory. The post read,
“It is with a sense of shock, devastation, disbelief and the reality that our worlds have in part ended, that we have to share that Neil suddenly passed away yesterday.”
His best friend and colleague, David Stubbs, expressed his sorrow and paid homage to his late friend in a heartfelt piece published in Electronic Sound.
“I’ve been in pieces,” wrote Stubbs, “I’ve lost a great friend, a comrade with whom I feel a great spiritual kinship going back many years.”
Who was Neil Kulkarni?
Neil Kulkarni was a renowned music journalist referred to as a “genius” music critic in his circles. He was a musician, author, and music critic whose work appeared in many esteemed music-based publications such as Melody Maker, The Wire, and The Quietus, where he wrote one of his finest work series, A New Nineties, and an Obituary for Terry Hall of The Specials in 2022. He also hosted a podcast and was a lecturer.
He attended the University of Warwick and earned his bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy from the University of York in 1993. He began writing professionally the same year and soon became well-known for his work at Melody Maker. He also contributed his talent to mainstream titles like Uncut, Vox, and Loaded and underground magazines such as Lime Lizard and Knowledge.
He started his freelance career in 2000 and wrote his first book, Hip Hop- Bring The Noise, published in 2004 and The Periodic Table of Hip Hop in 2015. In 2012, he published Eastern Spring: A 2nd Gen Memoir, an extension of an autobiographical series for The Quietus. It focused on his life as a member of an immigrant family in Coventry in the 1970s and 80s.
Neil was a man of many talents. He was a long-time member of the band Moonbears since the early 2000s and hosted a popular Top Of The Pops podcast, Chart Music. He was also a lecturer in music journalism at The British & Irish Modern Music (BIMM) Institute Birmingham.
A GoFundMe has been Organized
His best friend and colleague, David Stubbs, has established a GoFundMe campaign to support his grief-stricken family, including partner Lenie, sister Meera, and daughters Georgia and Sofia. The funds will assist the family with unexpected expenses and grieve their loved one with dignity and grace.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
