David Fair, the co-founder of influential art rock band Half Japanese, has passed away at age 74. His brother Jad confirmed his death on August 29th, citing cancer as the cause. Fair’s daughter shared a tribute on social media, describing her father as someone who lived with creativity, kindness, and love throughout his life.
The Fair brothers established Half Japanese in their childhood bedroom during the mid-1970s, releasing their debut EP on their own independent label in 1977. Their first full-length album arrived three years later, showcasing an eclectic blend of home recordings, experimental sound work, and unconventional song covers. Though Jad served as the primary creative visionary, David became renowned for articulating the band’s philosophy through his essay “How to Play Guitar,” which promoted musical freedom over traditional technical training and constraint.
Half Japanese earned a devoted cult following and attracted notable admirers, including magician Penn Jillette, who helped revive their label in the late 1980s, and grunge pioneers Nirvana, who invited them to support their 1993 In Utero tour. While the band continued recording prolifically, David’s involvement remained intermittent as he pursued other creative interests, including visual art and work on the web series The Big Baby Show. He also released multiple solo albums and contributed to film soundtracks during his career.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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