Singer-songwriter Kevin Ayers, who founded Sixties band Soft Machine, has died aged 68.

Kevin Ayers, an influential musician in the Sixties psychedelic scene was found dead at his home, where he lived alone, in the South of France around lunchtime on Tuesday by a neighbour.It is believed he died on February 18.

Kevin Ayers   retired for a period of 15 years in the 1990s, but returned to music in later life, and released his last album, ‘The Unfairground’, in 2006.

It included guest appearances from members of Teenage Fanclub, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, Neutral Milk Hotel and Roxy Music.

Kevin Ayers

Bernard MacMahon, director of his last UK label Lo-Max Records described Ayers as a “character”, adding: “You wouldn’t forget him if you’d met him. He was father of the underground.”

He added Ayers was very critical of his musical footprint.

“I think he always made music entirely for his own pleasure and satisfaction despite the fact that he had this long career. I don’t think he had any interest in being a pop star,” he said.

“Kevin was an artist and was plagued with massive insecurities about what he was doing.

“He would write material and people would hear what he was doing and would have to practically force him into the studio.”

By UP