Cult Folk Musician and Songwriter Bill Fei Passes Away at 81

Bill Fei’s Passing

A celebrated folk musician and songwriter, Bill Fei, passed away at the age of 81.

This information was confirmed by his label, Dead Oceans, which announced that Fei died yesterday in London (February 22). No cause of death was specified, albeit Fei had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

“Bill was a gentle man and a gentleman, wise outside our time,” stated Dead Oceans. “He was a private individual with the biggest heart, whose profoundly moving and significant songs will continue to resonate with audiences for many generations to come.”

Legacy and Career

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Born in North London in 1943, Fay pursued studies in electronics at a Welsh university. During this time, he began composing songs on the piano and harmonium, recording some demos that impressed former Van Morrison drummer Terry Pollen. This led to Fei signing with Decca Records, where he released two albums: “Bill Fei” in the 1970s and “Time of the Last Persecution” in 1971. Unfortunately, his second LP did not achieve commercial success, resulting in him being dropped from the label.

After what seemed like the end of his music career, Fay took on various jobs, including fishing and fruit picking. In 1998—almost 40 years after “Time of the Last Persecution”—a small British label reissued his music, capturing the attention of producer Jim O’Rourke.

O’Rourke introduced Fei’s albums to Jeff Tweedy, who was working on Wilco’s “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.” Tweedy was so taken by the songs that he began performing a cover of “Be Not So Fearful” during live shows, eventually inviting Fei to collaborate twice, in 2007 and 2010.

David Tibet of Current 93 was also influenced by Fei’s music and aided him in releasing the album collection “Tomorrow, Tomorrow & Tomorrow” in 2005, featuring studio recordings from 1978 to 1981.

Years later, producer Joshua Henry, who discovered Fei through a copy of “Time of the Last Persecution” in his father’s record collection, reached out to help him sign with Dead Oceans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9navcihvohhg

This revival led to a second phase in his career, resulting in three new albums: “Life is People” in 2012, “Who is the Sender?” in 2015, and “Countless Branches” in 2020. The new music cultivated a devoted fanbase, including artists like Nick Cave, War on Drugs, New Pornographers, Newman, and Stephen Malkmus.

In an interview with Guardian, Tweedy described Fei’s music as embodying “simplicity and elegance. It immediately conveys fragility amid ambitions and trends; it’s simply someone humbly contributing their voice to bring about beauty and potentially reconcile with the world.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdoruvyhjtu

Fay never toured extensively and appeared on television only once on Later… with Jools Holland. In their statement, Dead Oceans mentioned that he was working on an album at the time of his passing. “We hope to find a way to finish and release it,” they noted.

“But today, we honor Bill’s legacy as ‘a man in the corner of a piano room,’ who quietly penned heartfelt songs that touched and connected with people worldwide.”