Japan bass player Mick Karn died of cancer on Tuesday (January 4) afternoon at the age of 52.

A statement posted on his website says that Karn was “surrounded by friends and family” when he “passed away peacefully” at his Chelsea home in West London.

Born in 1958 in Nicosia, Cyprus, as Andonis Michaelides (later taking on his enduring stage name), Karn moved with his family to London at age three and, in the ’70s, co-founded glam rock group Japan with school friends at the age of 15.

Last June, Karn announced on his website that he’d been diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer and needed help from fans to fund his medical treatment and support his family. At the time, Karn had returned to live in Cyprus with his wife and son, but – following a series of benefit concerts in his honor – moved back to London for medical treatment in late 2010.

Remembrances of Karn came pouring in immediately following his death.

Japan singer David Sylvian said, “May his suffering be at an end, may he find eternal peace.” Duran Duran bassist John Taylor called Karn “one of the great visual and sound stylists of the late-70s/early-80s.”

Karn was known not only for his distinctive bass playing, but also for his shock of yellow hair and his flamboyant on-stage style. Following the release of their most critically and commercially acclaimed album, Tin Drum, Japan broke up in 1982, but reunited to release one album in 1991 as Rain Tree Crow.

Karn continued to work as a musician and artist up until his death.