80s music fans are in mourning after Living In A Box frontman Richard Darbyshire sadly died aged 65. Tributes have poured in for the singer whose voice defined a pop era
14:53, 11 Nov 2025
The singer died age 65(Image: Redferns)
80s music fans are mourning the loss of Richard Darbyshire, the singer best known as the frontman of chart-topping band Living In A Box, after his family confirmed he has died aged 65.
Richard’s unmistakable voice fronted the band’s smash-hit debut single Living In A Box in 1987 – a song that stormed the charts across the world and became an anthem of the decade.
The Sheffield-formed group scored more top 10 hits, including Room In Your Heart, a soulful ballad that showcased Richard’s rich and emotional vocals and remains a fan favourite.
His family confirmed he passed away on Monday, 10 November, telling fans: “We are all very sad but his memory and his songs will live on.”
The singer’s family confirmed the news(Image: Getty Images)
However, no cause of death has yet been revealed.
Born in Stockport, Richard spent his early years in Manchester before moving to Japan at the age of 13, where he attended an American boarding school. Music was always in his blood, and after returning to the UK he studied English Literature at Oxford before diving into the city’s thriving music scene.
Before Living In A Box, he joined Manchester band Zu Zu Sharks, scoring a minor European hit with Love Tumbles Down in 1983. But it was a chance studio meeting in Sheffield that changed his life forever. Drummer Anthony ‘Tich’ Critchlow and keyboardist Marcus Vere were working on a demo of Living In A Box and asked Richard to try the vocals. The rest was instant pop history.
The track catapulted the band into international fame(Image: WireImage)
The track catapulted the band to international fame, even breaking into the top 20 in the United States. But behind the success, record label changes caused tensions. Richard left the band in 1989 as work began on their third album, choosing to go solo rather than compromise creatively.
He released his own record in 1994 and later became an in-demand songwriter, working with stars including Lisa Stansfield, Jennifer Rush and Level 42.
Fans and fellow musicians online have described him as “underrated”, “a true voice of the 80s” and “a gentleman and an artist to the end.”
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