Rock singer Greg Kihn, best known for his 1980s hit ‘Jeopardy,’ has died at age 75 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, his direction team declared Thursday.
Kihn led the power-pop band
Greg Kihn Band, which gained successfulness with their 1981 single ‘The Breakup
Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em).’ The track
reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later promoted in ‘The Sopranos’
and ‘Grand Theft Auto’. However Kihn's biggest successfulness came in 1983 with
"Jeopardy," which ascend to No. 2 on
the Billboard Hot 100, only trailing
Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It.’ The song's music video, promoting Kihn at a
wedding attacked by a hideous creature, became an early MTV favorite.
“If you were an early MTV
watcher, certain artists live in our hearts from those days. Greg Kihn is one
of them,” former MTV host Martha Quinn shared on X. “He passed away at 75 after
a battle with Alzheimer’s. My condolences to his loved ones.”
Known for his lighthearted
spirit , Kihn played off his name in albums like “RocKihnRoll,” “Kihntagious,” and “Kihntinued.” He also materialized in “Weird Al” Yankovic’s parody music video, “I Lost on Jeopardy,”
which parodyed Kihn’s hit. “It was a brilliant parody,” Kihn said. “He invited me to appear in his
video, and I had a blast.”
In addition to his music
career, Kihn worked as a radio DJ for KUFX in the San Francisco Bay Area and
became a nationally syndicated radio host. He also explored writing, publishing
novels and short stories. Kihn’s final album, “ReKihndled,” was released in
2017, and he sold his music catalog in 2023. Just a month before his death, he
announced his retirement on Facebook. “After years of touring and radio shows,
it’s finally time to relax,” he wrote. “Thank you for your love and support
over the years. Rock on!”
Paying tribute, *Weird Al*
wrote on Instagram, “RIP Greg Kihn.” Tuff singer Stevie Rachelle added, “His
breakout single ‘The Breakup Song’ hit me at a time when music started to matter
differently. Now, it’s August 2024, and I just read Greg Kihn has died. RIP
Greg Kihn, you made an impact on me, and I thank you!”