EMF’s Derry Brownson Dead At 55

Derry Brownson, the keyboardist of the popular early 1990s UK dance-rock band EMF, has died at the age of 55. According to an Instagram post from the band, Brownson had recently been treated for a brain tumor. Born and raised in the small English town of Cinderford, Brownson had previously played with a band called Flowerdrum before becoming a founding member of EMF in 1989.

The name of the band, EMF, is believed to stand for "Epsom Mad Funkers," which was inspired by a New Order fan club, although there have been many speculations about its true meaning. The band signed with EMI after just five performances, with guitarist and lead songwriter Ian Dench creating the melody for their signature hit "Unbelievable" while hungover after a night out with Brownson.

The catchy, breakbeat-driven single, featuring an Andrew Dice Clay sample, went on to be a worldwide hit, even topping the Hot 100 in America in the summer of 1991. EMF's debut album "Schubert Dip" achieved platinum status in the US, followed by several other successful singles. However, the band's popularity waned in America, though they continued to enjoy success at home with hits like "I Believe" in 1995, which reached #6 in the UK and #19 in America.

After disbanding in 1995, Brownson formed a new band called LK. Tragically, former bassist Zac Foley passed away in 2002 due to a drug overdose. EMF reunited multiple times, releasing two more albums this decade, and even embarked on a US tour for the first time in 33 years in 2024. Despite his ongoing health issues, Brownson returned to EMF for a show in Bristol last year.