He later moved to Japan with his parents, attending an American boarding school before returning to the UK to study English Literature at Oxford University — an experience that further honed his lyrical and creative sensibilities.
Before joining Living in a Box, he was a member of British band Zu Zu Sharks, who released the 1983 hit Love Tumbles Down. Though he left the group soon after, his distinctive voice and melodic sensibility made him a sought-after collaborator within the British pop scene.
In 2016, Living in a Box were reformed by Critchlow and Vere with soul singer Kenny Thomas taking over lead vocals, though Darbyshire himself did not return to the line-up.
Darbyshire had been due to join his former bandmates at Butlin’s Skegness on November 22 as part of the resort’s 80s Weekender — a nostalgic celebration of the decade that defined his career.
Tributes have begun to pour in from across the music industry, with fans celebrating Darbyshire’s unmistakable vocals and the enduring influence of the band’s synth-driven sound — a defining part of 1980s British pop.
In a 2014 interview reflecting on his career, Darbyshire described himself as “grateful to have made music that connected with people.”
He is survived by his wife, singer and vocal coach Sonia Jones.
