Greg Kihn Death, Obituary – American Musician And Radio Personality, Singer “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)” Greg Kihn, the influential American musician known for his chart-topping hits “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)” and “Jeopardy,” has passed away at the age of 75. Kihn, whose career spanned several decades, died on Tuesday due to complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Kihn’s journey began in his hometown of Baltimore, where he started as a folksy singer-songwriter.
However, it was in San Francisco during the early 1970s that Kihn and his band, the Greg Kihn Band, began to make a significant impact. Alongside guitarist Robbie Dunbar, bassist Steve Wright, and drummer Larry Lynch, Kihn released a series of albums on the indie label Beserkley Records. Despite critical acclaim and a reputation as a formidable live act, the band’s early work did not achieve widespread commercial success.
In a candid 1980 interview with *Rolling Stone*, Kihn expressed his frustration with the slow progress of his career. “The rap is, why hasn’t Greg Kihn made it yet,” he mused. “I don’t know and I don’t care….I’ve given up worrying about ascending to the throne. That’s the kind of nonmusical thing that could hold a band back. Right now, though, I’d like a crack at AM [radio].” That crack came the following year with the release of “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em),” a track co-written by Kihn and Wright that soared to Number 15 on the Hot 100. Kihn once revealed to *Rolling Stone* that the memorable “ah ah ah‘s” in the song were originally intended as temporary filler.
“It took me three weeks to write a song about that,” he admitted, reflecting on the creative process. “Now it takes five minutes.” The success of “The Breakup Song” catapulted Kihn and his band into the spotlight, leading to high-profile gigs opening for iconic acts such as the Rolling Stones and Journey. Kihn’s rise continued with the release of “Jeopardy,” the lead single from the Greg Kihn Band’s 1983 album *Kihnspiracy*.
The song became a massive hit, peaking at Number Two on the Hot 100, just behind Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” Kihn described the creation of “Jeopardy” as a moment of serendipity, noting on his website that the song felt like it was “floating around in the atmosphere” before he captured it. “It was completely spontaneous,” he recalled. “Steve looked at me and we both realized what we’d done.”
Despite his growing fame and a heavy rotation on MTV, Kihn remained humble about his celebrity status. In an interview with *Rolling Stone* in 1983, he expressed a down-to-earth perspective on his success. “I’d love to have hair like A Flock of Seagulls, but I could never spend all day combing it, man,” he said. “I can just be myself, and they pay me for it. There’s no real trip. We just are.”
Kihn’s influence extended beyond his own hits; he was also the subject of a humorous tribute by “Weird Al” Yankovic. In 1984, Yankovic released “I Lost on Jeopardy,” a parody of Kihn’s hit. The music video featured Kihn himself in a cameo role, driving Yankovic away in a car after his game show defeat. Throughout his career, Greg Kihn remained a cherished figure in rock music, known for his catchy tunes and genuine personality. His contributions to music and radio left a lasting impact, and his legacy will continue to resonate with fans and fellow musicians alike.