Living In A Box Singer Richard Darbyshire Dies at 65

Richard Darbyshire, the former frontman of the 1980s synthpop band Living In A Box, has died at the age of 65. His family confirmed his passing on November 10, though no cause of death was disclosed.

Darbyshire served as lead singer and guitarist for the Sheffield-based trio, which also included keyboardist Marcus Vere and drummer Anthony "Tich" Critchlow. Formed in 1985 after a chance studio encounter where Darbyshire added vocals to an early demo, the band signed with Chrysalis Records and achieved international success with their self-titled debut single in 1987. The track reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and peaked in the top 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming an enduring anthem of the era.

The group's debut album, also titled Living In A Box and released that same year, featured Darbyshire's versatile voice, blending raw power with emotional depth. Follow-up singles included "Blow The House Down," which hit number 10 in the UK and featured guitar work from Queen's Brian May, and "Room In Your Heart," another top 10 entry that showcased his soulful ballad style. Their second album, Gatecrashing, arrived in 1989, but tensions arose over creative differences...