MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Renowned American rock and jazz saxophonist Mars Williams, of The Waitresses and The Psychedelic Furs, died on Monday morning, November 20, from ampullary cancer. He was 68.
According to the Mayo Clinic, ampullary cancer is a rare type of cancer that develops in a region of the digestive system known as the ampulla of Vater.
The musician was diagnosed with the rare disease about a year ago in December 2022.
In a statement, his family said he was “surrounded by family and friends” at the time of his death.
His loved ones shared the statement on the GoFundMe page that was set up to help cover his medical expenses, to announce his tragic death, and to share that he had spent the last six weeks doing what he loved the most - “out on the road performing night after night” with The Psychedelic Furs.
Mars Williams' career
Mars Williams was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1955.
He grew up playing clarinet and later pursued jazz studies at DePaul University.
Eventually, he moved to New York City and played with the punk new wave band The Waitresses for three years, from 1980 to 1983, before joining the British post-punk band The Psychedelic Furs.
The group made music and toured together from 1983 to 1989 before they disbanded.
In 2005, Williams reunited with The Psychedelic Furs and spoke about how they "put our resentments behind us" to get the band back together.
Williams explained in an interview with Penny Black Music, "I got back with the Furs in 2005. We were all older. We had been friends for so long. We put our resentments behind us."
He also said that he "loved" being back with his bandmates and performing with the group.
In his extensive career, he played with the Grammy-nominated jazz-funk group Liquid Soul for about 20 years, and also performed and recorded with prominent artists such as Billy Idol, Jerry Garcia, and The Killers.
Mars Williams' final days
The statement by Mars’ family and friends on the GoFundMe page read, “Dear friends, It's with great sadness that we send this message to let the many people who loved and supported Mars Williams know that he passed away earlier today after his year-long struggle with cancer.”
His loved ones shared that at the time of his death, Williams was “surrounded by family and friends, both in person and around the world, who held him close, and loved him dearly.”
“Until the end, Mars' inexhaustible humor and energy, and his love for music, pushed him forward,” the statement continued.
It also revealed, “As it became clear in late summer that his treatment options were coming to an end, he chose to spend six weeks of the time he had left living as he had since he was a teenager — out on the road performing night after night.”
“Those last performances with the Psychedelic Furs will live on with all of the other incredible contributions that Mars has made as a person, and as a musician, and that boundless energy will continue to inspire,” the statement added.
The family and friends of Williams have announced that they will be organizing a celebration of his life.
After his diagnosis, Williams underwent major surgery in January and was hospitalized for three weeks to recover from the operation.
In March, he began a six-month course of chemotherapy, which he successfully completed in September.
"Despite these challenges, his attitude is totally upbeat, and he's tackling this like everything else in his life — head on," read the statement on his GoFundMe page that was written earlier this year prior to his death.
