Greg Kihn, 80s Rock Icon, Passes Away

Greg Kihn, the beloved singer-songwriter best known for his hit songs from the 1980s, has sadly passed away at the age of 75. He died on Tuesday after battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Kihn started his musical journey in Baltimore before making his way to San Francisco in the 1970s. There, he formed the Greg Kihn Band, with talented members like guitarist Robbie Dunbar and drummer Larry Lynch. Over the years, they released several albums through the indie label Beserkley Records, though they didn’t initially make a big splash.

That began to change in 1981 when Kihn’s song “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)” climbed to No. 15 on the Hot 100 chart. In a candid interview, Kihn mentioned he never truly finished the lyrics and just put in some catchy sounds. The team loved it and convinced him to go with it as is!

Riding the wave of success, Kihn scored an even bigger hit in 1983 with “Jeopardy.” The song reached No. 2 on the Hot 100, only held back from the top spot by Michael Jackson’s massive hit “Beat It.” Kihn recalled feeling as if he just “snatched it out of the air” when inspiration struck.

Despite the fame, Kihn remained down-to-earth, often sharing his thoughts about not fitting the pop star mold. He embraced being himself and enjoyed the music he created. During his career, Kihn also became an iconic figure on the radio, hosting a show on the San Francisco classic rock station KUFX for many years.

Over time, Kihn became a familiar face on the nostalgia circuit, entertaining fans at casinos and fairs. Even with health issues starting in 2019, he never skipped a chance to perform his hits, always closing out the show with “Jeopardy” and “The Breakup Song.”

In addition to his music career, Kihn ventured into writing horror novels and was known for his interesting hobbies, including raising rare praying mantises. He is survived by his wife, Jay, and their children.