Fans are mourning the loss of David Fair, co-founder of art punk band Half Japanese, alongside brother Jad.
He reportedly passed away from cancer. He was 74 years old.
Jad Fair broke the news by posting a caption-free photo of himself and his brother on Facebook, and later confirmed his brother’s passing in an email to Rolling Stone.
Fair’s daughter also released a statement on her father’s Facebook page. “It is with a heavy heart that I announce that my father, David Fair, passed away on August 29th, 2026. He lived a beautiful life of love, kindness, and creativity,” she wrote.
Half Japanese
As Pitchfork reports, the Fair brothers founded Half Japanese in 1974.
After being signed to British indie label Armageddon, the duo released their debut album, “1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts” in 1980.
“The project, a 3xLP box set of debased covers, thrilling punk skirmishes, minimalist sound art, and anarchic noise, became a cult classic,” writes Pitchfork.
‘How to Play Guitar’
David Fair was also renowned for writing “How to Play Guitar,” described by Pitchfork as “a mini-manifesto” that decried traditional guitar techniques in favor of a punk-inspired anything-goes approach.
“If you ignore the chords your options are infinite and you can master guitar playing in one day,” he wrote.
He also advised aspiring punk guitarists not to bother learning how to tune a guitar. “I wind the strings until they’re all about the same tightness,” Fair advised.
Obscure Yet Influential
Half Japanese bore the influences of such artists as the Velvet Underground and Jonathan Richman.
While the duo remained on the outskirts of the musical mainstream, Half Japanese was hugely influential to artists who followed in their wake, including the likes of Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo and Teenage Fanclub.
Another big fan was Kurt Cobain, who demonstrated his love for the band when he invited Half Japanese to open for Nirvana on several dates during the band’s In Utero Tour during 1993-’94.
Half Japanese was also the subject of a documentary, director Jeff Feuerzeig’s “Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King,” released in 1993.
In addition to his musical contributions, Fair was an acclaimed visual artist.
His work can be seen in the wild web series “The Big Baby Show,” and in “Psychol X10!” a surreal adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” that he directed and co-wrote.
A Flurry of Tributes
News of Fair’s passing was greeted with the late rocker from his friend Travis McElroy, of Thick Syrup Records.
“David was one of those people who showed you that music didn’t have to follow any rules. You could just make something because you needed to make it,” McElroy wrote on Instagram.
“He was a genuinely good, one-of-a-kind human being. I’m thankful our paths crossed and that I got to know him beyond the music. I have a lot of memories that mean even more to me now. It’s hard knowing someone you’ve known and cared about is suddenly just gone. I don’t have anything profound to say. I’m just really [expletive] sad, and I’m going to miss my friend,” McElroy added.
Meanwhile, the Facebook post shared by Fair’s daughter was also greeted with tributes.
“He was a great soul, always funny and kind and brilliant,” Chris Mason commented.
“So sorry for your loss and this sad news,” Bradley Scott Davis replied.
“He changed the whole conversation about music, creativity, and a selfless playfulnee,” Anne Hambleton Watts shared.
“My condolences,” John Redact added. “Your father’s influence on my life was huge.”
