Vláďa Růžek, singer and guitarist of Czech band Markýz John, has died

Vláďa Růžek, singer and guitarist of the Czech band Markýz John, has died. His son Jakub, who also plays in the band, announced his death on Facebook.

“I knew it was coming, but it is harder than I thought. He gave out love and kindness enough for three lifetimes. A bohemian with everything that comes with it. I would like to be like him,” Jakub wrote.

Markýz John was founded in 1967 by keyboardist and composer Jan Vršecký. Růžek joined in 1978 and soon became the band’s central figure, especially after Vršecký left in 1987. He started as a guitarist and in the 1990s also became the lead singer. The band was most successful in community cultural centres across the country and on Prague stages.

The first album is called “Markýz John 1991”, and the latest, “Na cestu se dej” (“Set Off on Your Way”), came out last year. Among the best-known songs are “Bim Bam”, “Sacramento”, “Paleta” (“Palette”), “Lesní muž” (“Forest Man”), “Noc bláznů” (“Night of Fools”), “Afrika” and “Důvod žít” (“A Reason to Live”).

In 2001 Růžek’s son Jakub, a keyboardist and singer, joined the band. In May this year the band had to cancel concerts because of Vladimír Růžek’s illness, and in August it announced that it would carry on without him.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz