Derry Brownson, keyboardist and one of the founding members of the alternative rock band EMF, passed away on August 13, 2026, aged 55. The cause of death was a brain tumor, as reported. The news was confirmed by groupmates on the official EMF Facebook page and also announced by his brother, Steve Brownson.
The band expressed their deep sadness at the loss of their “brother in arms”. In a statement, the members said they were “devastated”, but found solace in their “eternal gratitude” that Derry was able to perform with them on stage just months before his death. The message concluded with “Fly high, brother Derry”, and the band emphasized that “nothing will be the same” without the presence of their friend and companion.
Emotional farewell to the band and family
Steve Brownson also used Facebook to announce the death of his family member. He highlighted that Derry was a “much loved” brother, uncle, son and friend, and would be “greatly missed” by all who knew and valued him.
Steve described Derry as a “beautiful and talented soul” who could fill any room with “love, energy and kindness.” He highlighted the courage of his brother, who “fought bravely for so long”, and mentioned a “last show” in Bristol as a gesture of thanks to the group’s fans.
The fight against the disease and Derry’s latest performances
Before his health condition worsened, keyboardist Derry Brownson performed his last public performance in May 2026.
Derry Brownson’s health condition was first made public in July 2025. At that time, EMF had performed at Cindyfest in her hometown of Cinderford, and Brownson called the event “very, very special.”
Ian Dench, the band’s guitarist, expressed his joy at having managed to reunite with Brownson for the festival. He described the moment as “really lovely”, highlighting the coincidence of them being back in Cinderford years later.
Dench reiterated that it was a “wonderful” time before Derry became “very ill”, mentioning that he did “that show” and a few more performances. Brownson’s last show took place in May 2026, in Somerset, England.
Musical legacy: the formation of EMF and the success of “Unbelievable”
The band EMF was formed in Gloucestershire, England in 1989. Its original lineup included Derry Brownson on keyboards, Zac Foley on bass, Marc Decloedt on drums, Ian Dench on guitar, DJ Milf and James Atkin on vocals. The group stood out in the early 90s with an innovative sound that mixed alternative rock and dance music influences, which earned them acclaim.
The group’s greatest recognition came in 1990, with the release of their debut single “Unbelievable”. The song reached the first position on the Billboard Hot 100, third on the UK Hot Singles chart and was among the 10 most played in 14 countries, consolidating the band’s international success.
“Unbelievable” became iconic for incorporating two distinct samples: an exclamation “Oh!” by comedian Andrew Dice Clay and an excerpt from the phrase “What the…was that?” from the spoken word track “Silly S**t”, by Gylan Kain, from 1970. With the success of the song, EMF used their first advance to improve the dance-rock style with touches of hip-hop, and it is said that they invested the money in puffer jackets, a symbol of the aesthetics of the time.
