Gary "Gazza" Johnson, the long-term bassist of Liverpool synth-pop band China Crisis, has died at the age of 61. He died on August 12, 2026, and would have turned 62 on August 20.
Johnson joined the Kirkby-based band in the early 1980s and played on its most successful albums, including Working With Fire And Steel, Flaunt The Imperfection, What Price Paradise and Diary Of A Hollow Horse. The band's breakout tunes earned them 10 top 50 singles during the 1980s, at a time when Liverpool's music scene was flourishing.
Tributes from bandmates and friends
China Crisis lead vocalist Gary Daly paid tribute on the band's Instagram and Facebook, writing: "What a lovely fella Gazza was, a real gentleman... a proper gentle giant of a man. Clever, bright, funny, erudite, curious and compassionate... a true and proper friend... if he so much as liked you, it was for life..."
Daly added: "Gazza as a musician was the real deal... as a bass guitarist... he was second to none... and completely respected and admired by his peers... everyone from Walter Becker to Sting of the Police to Carlos Santana and even David Bowie."
He continued: "The musical confidence he brought to all of us in China Crisis... In the studio and on the road... was absolutely integral to our success... and Gaz thoroughly enjoyed every minute of that success... mainly because he genuinely liked people... Liked meeting new people and every walk of life, Gaz was interested... he loved stories and he loved people’s stories. In a bar, at the gig, on a plane, anywhere and everywhere... Gaz really did appreciate his life was, for the most part, was charmed."
Daly concluded: "His musical legacy will be forever remembered and enjoyed and everyone he got to contribute and work with will last for always, it was invaluable and his friendship cherished... Gaz throughout it all remained the Scouse lad he’d always been. He went round the world performing to great acclaim and always returned, happy to be home... Loved his family. Loved his mates. Loved his football. Loved his music. God Bless. RIP Gaz."
Further remembrances
Guitarist Eddie Lundon said: "We first came across Gaz when he was suggested to us by Virgin Records. From the outset we knew what a great talent he was not only in his performance and ability but also for his compassionate humanity. Gaz remained a long time member of CC and even a longer time friend. He will always be in our hearts; he will be sadly missed. The world has lost a true talent and we have lost a dear friend."
On the China Crisis Appreciation Society Facebook page, tour manager Stuart Nisbet said: "I've been missing him for years. I've been missing his brilliant musicality, his ridiculous sociability, his annoying habit of always being right. I've been missing his joy in company, his happiness telling stories in the pub, a happiness driven by his sheer delight in getting to live the life he did. I've been missing his wit, his sense of fun. I've been missing his warmth and huge generosity of spirit. I've been missing his ability to forgive and forget. We all meet people we forget, some people we can't wait to forget, but nobody has ever forgotten Gazza. See you in that celestial hotel bar, maestro."
Bandmate and friend Brian McNeil said: "My first meeting at a rehearsal with Gaz was a revelation. I was a 19 year old kid and much as I’d played in a number of bands, this was different. Where I was from, the bass players plonked away on the root note. Not Gaz. He played complex, fluid and melodic lines with great feel. He made it look easy. I was out of my depth but Gaz made me immediately at ease with his humour, patience and kindness. I’ll miss his stories, our time talking/drinking and also his and Joanne’s trips North to see the McNeills. God bless you Gaz."
