’80s pop star dead at 65: ‘Exquisite but reluctant front man’

Richard Darbyshire, the frontman for the 1980s pop band Living In A Box, has died.

His family told the BBC that he died on Nov. 10. He was 65. No cause of death was given.

“We are all very sad but his memory and songs will live on,” they said in a statement.

Darbyshire was the lead singer for the group from 1985 through 1990. The group released its album, “Living In A Box,” in 1987, and scored its first major hit with the song that shared the same name, per the BBC.

That song became the group’s only major hit in the United States as well, rising to No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band also had two more songs, including “Room In Your Heart,” which charted in the United Kingdom.

“Sad to hear of the passing of my pal Richard Darbyshire,” Then Jerico posted on X. “Requiescat in Pace. Richard lent his beautiful voice to the backing vocals on Then Jerico’s ‘The Happening,’ ‘Where You Lie,’ & ‘Trampled Underfoot.’ I’ll miss his humour, talent and friendship. God bless mate.”

“Really sad to hear of the death of Richard Darbyshire,” Graham Spiers posted on X. “In the late 1980s Living In A Box had an exquisite but reluctant front man who did not enjoy being a pop star. Note here on TOTP how he scarcely looks up once during Room In Your Heart. RIP.”

The BBC credited Darbyshire with providing vocals that gave Living In A Box “a soulful edge.” The outlet said Darbyshire left the group in 1989 after changes at their record level “caused artistic differences during the recording of their third album.”

Darbyshire went on to release three solo albums. His last —“This I Swear” — came in 2009.