Boy George pays tribute to Blancmange keyboardist Stephen Luscombe
The pioneering '80s star passed away on September 13, aged 70.
Boy George has remembered Stephen Luscombe of Blancmange.
The death of the instrumentalist for the pioneering British synth-pop duo was confirmed by his bandmate Neil Arthur on September 13.
He wrote alongside a throwback black-and-white headshot of his bandmate on the group's official Facebook page: "Heartbroken. RIP Stephen. Love you forever."
Luscombe, who was 70, helped shape the sound of the early 1980s with Blancmange’s signature blend of electronic textures and global influences. Alongside Arthur, he crafted hits such as Living on the Ceiling, Blind Vision, and Don’t Tell Me, which became staples of the UK charts and club scene. The duo’s debut album Happy Families remains a landmark of the genre.
Blancmange originally disbanded in 1986 but reunited in the 2000s, releasing Blanc Burn in 2011. Shortly after, Luscombe stepped away due to health issues, including an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Despite his absence from touring, his influence remained central to the band’s legacy.
Culture Club star Boy George was a huge fan of Living on the Ceiling, haling it "one of the most seminal electro tracks" of all time, and recalled their wild time working together in India.
He penned on X: "Yesterday we said goodbye to Stephen Luscombe from @_blancmange_ he was also in 'The West India Company' and we went to India together which was amazing. We recorded with legendary Indian singer Asha Bosle who later sang on 'Bow Down Mister'. We worked with a 100 piece Indian orchestra, caused riots in The Hare Krishna temple and recorded a version of @ABBAVoyage 'I Have A Dream' which never came out. Stephen along with Neil Arthur made one of the most seminal electro tracks. Living On The Ceiling. I saw them do it live supporting our @erasureinfo last year. Bye Stephen. Legend! (sic)"
Yesterday we said goodbye to Stephen Luscombe from @_blancmange_ he was also in 'The West India Company' and we went to India together which was amazing. We recorded with legendary Indian singer Asha Bosle who later sang on 'Bow Down Mister'. We worked with a 100 piece Indian…
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) September 14, 2025
