Ivan Král, Patti Smith Group composer, dies of cancer at 71
Composer, the guitarist, and member of Patti Smith Group, Ivan Král has died of cancer at 71, reports Reuters.
Král has left a notable mark on the music industry, working across multiple genres including punk, rock, jazz, soul, country and even film scores. His most commonly known contribution was the 1979 song called 'Dancing Barefoot' he co-wrote, from the album 'Wave'! Král briefly played with Blondie in the mid-’70s before his long occupancy with Patti Smith Group. The composer, producer, and guitarist also performed on and wrote for Smith’s debut album 'Horses' (1975), 'Radio Ethiopia' (1976), 'Easter' (1978), and 'Exodus' (1994).
Král was the writer for many songs performed by David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Eastern Bloc, U2, John Cale and other iconic music performers in addition to his work with Smith. The late composer had a few notable works as a film producer as well, including the release of a documentary in 1976 titled 'The Blank Generation' which was directed by Král, himself and is often referred to as the original visual document of the birth of the New York punk scene. 'The Blank Generation' features footage of Blondie, Ramones, Talking Heads, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Wayne County and more. Král has presented a host of albums over 26 years, beginning with 1992’s solo albums 'Native' and ending with 2018’s 'Colors'.
Czech producer David Gaydecka of the Metronome festival in Prague confirmed Kral’s passing. “We worked together since 2016, but the Grand finale, which we have prepared, never came,” Gaydecka said. Král’s wife, Cindy Hudson, also confirmed his death in a press statement revealed on Twitter by Greg Jarvis of 'The Flowers of Hell'. Král played the bass on the band’s ‘Come Hell Or High Water’ album, which released in 2009. In the statement, Hudson revealed that Král died from cancer in his Michigan home.
Ivan Král was born in Prague but later moved to the US in 1966 as a refugee from Czechoslovakia with his parents, who were diplomats. His father Dr. Karel Kral was a reporter at the United Nations who brought international attention to the pending Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and publicly denounced the action, subsequently deciding not to return. Král's refugee status changed in 1981 when he obtained US citizenship.
After the 1989 Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Revolution, which broke Communist rule, Kral returned home to produce and perform for a number of Czech musicians and bands.
According to the statement by Hudson, the songwriter's latest Czech album, ‘Smile’, is scheduled to be released on February 28, now posthumously.