Angelo Badalamenti, composer on Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, more dies, aged 85
Perhaps best known for his David Lynch scores, the acclaimed musician also collaborated with Nina Simone, David Bowie, Orbital, Pet Shop Boys, Marianne Faithfull and more
Angelo Badalamenti, the acclaimed composer of several David Lynch projects, has passed away at age 85.
Brooklyn-born Badalamenti died of natural causes at his New Jersey home surrounded by family on Sunday, 11th December, his niece Frances confirmed to Hollywood Reporter. His grand-nephew Mikey also shared the news on Instagram. "My great uncle Angelo Badalamenti has crossed the barrier onto another plane of existence," he wrote. "A true musical and artistic inspiration for me and countless others."
Badalamenti is best known for his work with David Lynch, including award-winning scores for Twin Peaks, including the Fire Walk With Me film and 2017 reboot, Mulholland Drive, Wild At Heart and Blue Velvet, which was his first time working with Lynch. On that film, he was initially charged with being Isabella Rosselini's vocal coach, then worked with Lynch to co-write 'Mysteries of Love' — also their first collaboration with singer Julee Cruise, who died in June this year — before taking on the film's score as a whole. In 1990, he won a Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of the 'Twin Peaks Theme'.
Badalamenti also composed the scores to A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Holy Smoke!, The Wicker Man (2006), The Beach, The Edge of Love, A Late Quartet, Witch Hunt and more.
Outside of film and television, Badalamenti frequently collaborated with a number of major artists as a producer, writer, orchestrator and performer. His credits include works with David Bowie, Nina Simone, Paul McCartney, Orbital, Pet Shop Boys, Anthrax, Marianne Faithfull and Tim Booth.
For the 12th December entry in his daily YouTube weather report video series, David Lynch said, "Today, no music". See more tributes to Badalamenti from social media, listen to 'Laura Palmer's Theme' and watch clips of him describing his work with Lynch below
