Mike Ratledge, Soft Machine co-founder, dead at 81

Mike Ratledge, one of the founding members and keyboard player of the British psych-rock band Soft Machine, has died aged 81 after a short illness.

Soft Machine's guitarist John Etheridge shared the news on a Facebook post: "Incredibly sad news that my great friend and Soft Machine legend passed away two hours ago after a brief illness. Mike was the backbone of Soft Machine in the early years and a man with an absolutely incisive mind - a marvellous composer and keyboardist. A real renaissance man - so talented, cultured, charming - and a wonderful companion.

"We used to meet every few weeks for over 40 years - a treat for me. What a loss to all of us and his sisters and wonderful girlfriend Elena, who were with him at the end."

Ratledge was born in the UK town of Maidstone in Kent on May 6, 1943, where he studied classical music growing up, learning piano and clarinet.

He met Daevid Allen in 1961, who turned him onto jazz, and by 1963 Ratledge was performing with Allen in the Daevid Allen Trio
while earning a degree in psychology and philosophy from University College, Oxford.

Ratledge formed Soft Machine with Ayers, Allen, Wyatt and guitarist Larry Nowlin in 1966. While the band's lineup saw frequent changes over the years, Ratledge remained its longest-serving member until he left in 1976, following the release of their Softs album.

Ratledge’s role as a keyboardist was integral to the sound of the band, and his iconic look became a defining part of their visual identity, characterized by his unique hairstyle, mustache, and dark sunglasses.

After leaving Soft Machine, he remained active in music composition and production across various fields, including television and theater. In the 1990s, he teamed up with composer Karl Jenkins for the album Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary, and they continued to collaborate on future projects.