Mark Stewart

982 fans

An enduring figure on the outer edges of British music, Mark Stewart rose to prominence in the late 1970s as a founding member of punk/dub trailblazers The Pop Group. From that point on, he consistently pushed musical boundaries, creating powerful and confrontational work that fused radical politics with raw sonic innovation. After teaming up with producer Adrian Sherwood, Stewart launched a solo career with albums like Learning to Cope with Cowardice (1983), blending dub, funk, and industrial noise into a dense and explosive mix. His unorthodox vocal delivery and fearless experimentation became foundational influences on genres such as industrial, trip-hop, and digital hardcore.

Born in Bristol, England, Stewart attended Bristol Grammar School, where he crossed paths with future Clash member Nick Sheppard. Inspired by punk but unwilling to conform to its limitations, Stewart formed The Pop Group in 1978 with John Waddington, Gareth Sager, Simon Underwood, and Bruce Smith. Their music veered sharply from conventional paths, combining fractured funk rhythms, dissonant guitars, and politically charged lyrics. Though not a commercial success, the group's influence proved immense and lasting.

Following The Pop Group’s breakup in 1980, Stewart joined the New Age Steppers alongside Smith and Waddington, marking the beginning of his collaboration with Sherwood. Stewart’s debut solo album introduced the Maffia, a rotating cast of musicians that included future Tackhead members Skip McDonald, Doug Wimbish, and Keith LeBlanc. Together, they recorded several more albums, including As the Veneer of Democracy Starts to Fade, Mark Stewart, and Metatron. The group later reunited for Control Data in 1996.

During the 1990s and 2000s, Stewart focused heavily on collaborations and production, working with artists such as Tricky, Massive Attack, Trent Reznor, and ADULT. In 2005, he released Kiss the Future, a retrospective compilation, followed by the 2008 album Edit. A documentary about his work, On/Off:, appeared at international film festivals in 2009.

In 2010, Stewart reformed The Pop Group with Gareth Sager and Bruce Smith, leading to new material and live performances. He also released new solo work, including The Politics of Envy (2012), featuring Lee "Scratch" Perry, Richard Hell, Keith Levene, and members of Primal Scream and The Raincoats, as well as Exorcism of Envy, which included contributions from Factory Floor and Kenneth Anger.

The Pop Group returned with Citizen Zombie in 2015 and Honeymoon on Mars in 2016. Stewart continued collaborating into the late 2010s, writing lyrics for Little Axe’s London Blues and appearing on De Lux’s More Disco Songs About Love. His debut album was reissued in 2019 as Learning to Cope with Cowardice/The Lost Tapes, including previously unreleased material.

Mark Stewart passed away on April 21, 2023, at the age of 62.

~ Adapted from original text by Mark Deming, Rovi

Top tracks

01
We Are All Prostitutes (Adam Sky vs. Mark Stewart) (Crookers Remix)
Adam Sky
We Are All Prostitutes
06:28
Composers: Catsis; Sagar, Gareth; Smith, Bruce; Stewart, Mark; Waddington, John
07
Scorpio
Mark Stewart
Pay It All Back Vol.6
04:56
01
Neon Girl
Mark Stewart
Neon Girl
03:55
Composers: Mark Stewart - Martin Glover
01
Memory Of You
Mark Stewart
Memory Of You
03:59
Composers: Mark Stewart

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  • Discography
Albums
℗ 2025 Mark Stewart under exclusive license to Mute Artists Ltd.
11-07-2025
The Fateful Symmetry
01
Memory Of You
Mark Stewart
The Fateful Symmetry
03:59
Composers: Mark Stewart
02
Neon Girl
Mark Stewart
The Fateful Symmetry
03:55
Composers: Mark Stewart - Martin Glover
03
This Is The Rain
Mark Stewart
The Fateful Symmetry
04:09
Composers: Gareth Sager - Mark Stewart
04
Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg)
Mark Stewart
The Fateful Symmetry
03:51
Composers: Huw Olesker - James Warren
05
Stable Song
Mark Stewart
The Fateful Symmetry
03:42
Composers: Andy Jenks - Martin Barnard
06
Twilight's Child
Mark Stewart
The Fateful Symmetry
02:35
Composers: Andy Jenks - Mark Stewart
07
Crypto Religion
Mark Stewart
The Fateful Symmetry
04:28
Composers: Mark Stewart - Nick Riggio - Rebecca Masiker
Access the complete album info (9 songs)
2022 eMERGENCY heARTS
08-04-2022
VS
01
Rage of Angels
Mark Stewart
VS
05:30
Writer: Mark Stewart, Andy Spaceland
02
Cast No Shadow - Leæther Strip Mix
Mark Stewart
VS
07:25
Writer: Mark Stewart, Eric Random, Stephen Mallinder
03
Last Enemy - Black Mix
Mark Stewart
VS
05:26
Writer: Mark Stewart, Mark Pistel, Adam Sherburne
04
Cursed Child
Mark Stewart
VS
05:31
Writer: Mark Stewart, Mika Vainio
05
Ghost of Love
Mark Stewart
VS
07:02
Writer: Mark Stewart, Eric Random
06
Outlaw Empire - Adrian Sherwood Dub Mix
Mark Stewart
VS
03:24
Writer: Mark Stewart, Brad Feuerhelm, Lee Tesche, Ryan Mahan
07
New Error
Mark Stewart
VS
07:34
Writer: Mark Stewart, Kazuyuki Kishino
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
Mark Stewart
09-07-2021
Never Enough
01
See You Soon
Mark Stewart
Never Enough
03:48
02
Can I Say?
Mark Stewart
Never Enough
03:35
03
I Want You to Break My Heart
Mark Stewart
Never Enough
01:57
04
Gone Away
Mark Stewart
Never Enough
03:50
05
We Fight
Mark Stewart
Never Enough
03:29
06
My Rock(er)
Mark Stewart
Never Enough
03:38
07
I Wanna Tell You
Mark Stewart
Never Enough
01:52
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
Future Noise Music Ltd
01-12-2012
Exorcism Of Envy
01
Babycino
Mark Stewart
Exorcism Of Envy
04:59
02
Sexorcist
Mark Stewart
Exorcism Of Envy
03:31
03
Gustav Says Dub
Mark Stewart
Exorcism Of Envy
03:10
04
Method to the Madness Dub
Mark Stewart
Exorcism Of Envy
04:38
05
Codex Dub
Mark Stewart
Exorcism Of Envy
03:08
06
Want Version
Mark Stewart
Exorcism Of Envy
03:24
07
Mirror Wars
Mark Stewart
Exorcism Of Envy
04:28
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
Future Noise Music Ltd
25-03-2012
The Politics Of Envy
01
Vanity Kills
Mark Stewart
The Politics Of Envy
03:44
02
Autonomia
Mark Stewart
The Politics Of Envy
03:34
03
Gang War
Mark Stewart
The Politics Of Envy
06:07
04
Codex
Mark Stewart
The Politics Of Envy
03:33
05
Want
Mark Stewart
The Politics Of Envy
04:29
06
Gustav Says
Mark Stewart
The Politics Of Envy
03:05
07
Baby Bourgeois
Mark Stewart
The Politics Of Envy
05:09
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
(P) 2008 Crippled Dick Hot Wax!
28-03-2008
Edit
01
Intro
Mark Stewart
Edit
00:14
Composers: Stewart, Mark
02
Rise Again
Mark Stewart
Edit
03:14
Composers: Stewart, Mark
03
Loner
Mark Stewart
Edit
04:27
Composers: Stewart, Mark
04
The Puppet Master
Mark Stewart
Edit
02:57
Composers: Stewart, Mark
05
Strange Cargo
Mark Stewart
Edit
05:16
Composers: Stewart, Mark
06
Secret Suburbia
Mark Stewart
Edit
05:15
Composers: Stewart, Mark
07
Almost Human
Mark Stewart
Edit
06:04
Composers: Stewart, Mark
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
(P) 2008 Crippled Dick Hot Wax!
28-03-2008
Edit (Bonus Edition)
01
Intro
Mark Stewart
Edit (Bonus Edition)
00:14
Composers: Stewart, Mark
02
Rise Again
Mark Stewart
Edit (Bonus Edition)
03:14
Composers: Stewart, Mark
03
Loner
Mark Stewart
Edit (Bonus Edition)
04:27
Composers: Stewart, Mark
04
The Puppet Master
Mark Stewart
Edit (Bonus Edition)
02:57
Composers: Stewart, Mark
05
Strange Cargo
Mark Stewart
Edit (Bonus Edition)
05:16
Composers: Stewart, Mark
06
Secret Suburbia
Mark Stewart
Edit (Bonus Edition)
05:15
Composers: Stewart, Mark
07
Almost Human
Mark Stewart
Edit (Bonus Edition)
06:04
Composers: Stewart, Mark
Access the complete album info (13 songs)
(P) 2007 Adam Sky & Mark Stewart
21-09-2007
We Are All Prostitutes
01
We Are All Prostitutes (Adam Sky vs. Mark Stewart) (Crookers Remix)
Adam Sky
We Are All Prostitutes
06:28
Composers: Catsis; Sagar, Gareth; Smith, Bruce; Stewart, Mark; Waddington, John
02
We Are All Prostitutes (Adam Sky vs. Mark Stewart) (Crookers Remix Instrumental)
Adam Sky
We Are All Prostitutes
06:29
Composers: Catsis;Sagar;Smith;Stewart;Waddington
03
We Are All Prostitutes (Adam Sky vs. Mark Stewart) (Shadow Dancer Remix)
Adam Sky
We Are All Prostitutes
05:29
Composers: Catis;Sagar;Smith;Stewart;Waddington
04
We Are All Prostitutes (Adam Sky vs. Mark Stewart) (Shadow Dancer Remix Instrumental)
Adam Sky
We Are All Prostitutes
05:23
Composers: Catsis;Sagar;Smith;Stewart;Waddington
05
We Are All Prostitutes (Adam Sky vs. Mark Stewart) (Princess Superstar Remix)
Adam Sky
We Are All Prostitutes
05:36
Composers: Catsis;Sagar;Smith;Stewart;Waddington
06
We Are All Prostitutes (Adam Sky vs. Mark Stewart)
Adam Sky
We Are All Prostitutes
03:55
Composers: Catsis;Sagar;Smith;Stewart;Waddington
07
Parasite (Adam Sky vs. Mark Stewart)
Adam Sky
We Are All Prostitutes
05:27
Composers: Sky, Adam;Stewart, Mark
15-03-2007
Wild Animus, Part One: The Ram
01
From the Flames
Rich Shapero
Wild Animus, Part One: The Ram
02:21
02
Ram
Rich Shapero
Wild Animus, Part One: The Ram
01:57
03
Where Am I Bound?
Rich Shapero
Wild Animus, Part One: The Ram
02:19
04
Cock and Spring
Rich Shapero
Wild Animus, Part One: The Ram
03:04
05
The Pool
Rich Shapero
Wild Animus, Part One: The Ram
03:46
06
A Stalking Shadow
Rich Shapero
Wild Animus, Part One: The Ram
04:14
07
Entreaty
Rich Shapero
Wild Animus, Part One: The Ram
01:44
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
℗ 1996 Mute Records Limited
01-04-1996
Control Data
01
Dream Kitchen
Mark Stewart
Control Data
06:26
Writer: Mark Stewart - S Mundey / Composers: Mark Stewart - S Mundey - Stewart
02
Forbidden Love
Mark Stewart
Control Data
06:13
Writer: Mark Stewart - S Mundey / Composers: Mark Stewart - S Mundey - Stewart
03
Red Zone
Mark Stewart
Control Data
08:09
Writer: Mark Stewart - S Mundey / Composers: Mark Stewart - S Mundey - Stewart
04
Scorpio
Mark Stewart
Control Data
08:07
Writer: Mark Stewart / Composers: Mark Stewart - Stewart
05
Consumed
Mark Stewart
Control Data
04:30
Writer: Mark Stewart - S Mundey / Composers: Mark Stewart - S Mundey - Stewart
06
Data Blast
Mark Stewart
Control Data
01:00
Writer: Mark Stewart - S Mundey / Composers: Mark Stewart - S Mundey - Stewart
07
Digital Justice
Mark Stewart
Control Data
06:10
Writer: Mark Stewart - S Mundey / Composers: Mark Stewart - S Mundey - Stewart
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
℗ 1990 Mute Records Ltd
01-01-1990
Metatron
01
Hysteria
Mark Stewart
Metatron
06:13
Composers: Stewart
02
Shame
Mark Stewart
Metatron
06:55
Composers: Stewart
03
Collision
Mark Stewart
Metatron
05:20
Composers: Stewart
04
Faith Healer
Mark Stewart
Metatron
04:04
Composers: Stewart
05
These Things Happen
Mark Stewart
Metatron
06:14
06
My Possession
Mark Stewart
Metatron
02:18
Composers: Stewart
07
Possesion Dub
Mark Stewart
Metatron
03:15
Composers: Stewart
Access the complete album info (8 songs)
℗ 1987 Mute Records Ltd
01-01-1987
Mark Stewart
01
Survival
Mark Stewart
Mark Stewart
05:10
Writer: Stewart
02
Survivalist
Mark Stewart
Mark Stewart
02:43
Writer: Stewart
03
Anger Is Holy
Mark Stewart
Mark Stewart
09:11
Composers: Stewart
04
Hell Is Empty
Mark Stewart
Mark Stewart
07:05
Writer: Stewart
05
Stranger
Mark Stewart
Mark Stewart
08:19
Composers: Stewart
06
Forbidden Colour
Mark Stewart
Mark Stewart
04:43
Composers: David Sylvian
07
Forbidden Dub
Mark Stewart
Mark Stewart
03:11
Composers: David Sylvian
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
℗ 1985 Mute Records Limited
25-11-1985
As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade
01
Passcivecation Program
Mark Stewart
As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade
07:06
Composers: Stewart
02
Bastards
Mark Stewart
As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade
05:26
Composers: Stewart
03
The Resistance Of The Cell
Mark Stewart
As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade
05:21
Composers: Stewart
04
Call To Mecca
Mark Stewart
As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade
00:44
Composers: Mark Stewart
05
As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade
Mark Stewart
As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade
05:37
Composers: Stewart
06
Pay It All Back
Mark Stewart
As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade
04:29
Composers: Stewart
07
Hypnotised
Mark Stewart
As The Veneer Of Democracy Starts To Fade
05:51
Composers: Stewart
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
EPs
Future Noise Music Ltd
30-09-2012
Stereotype
01
Stereotype (Radio Edit)
Mark Stewart
Stereotype
03:58
02
Stereotype (Italoconnection Remix)
Mark Stewart
Stereotype
05:37
03
Stereotype (Italoconnection Remix - Instrumental)
Mark Stewart
Stereotype
05:37
04
Stereotype (Chrissy Murderbot Trunk Rattle Mix)
Mark Stewart
Stereotype
04:06
05
Stereotype (Chrissy Murderbot Trunk Rattle Dub)
Mark Stewart
Stereotype
04:06
06
Stereotype (Mark Stewart Dub)
Mark Stewart
Stereotype
03:38
Singles
℗ 2025 Mark Stewart under exclusive license to Mute Artists Ltd.
18-06-2025
Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg)
01
Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg)
Mark Stewart
Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg)
03:51
Composers: Huw Olesker - James Warren
02
Neon Girl
Mark Stewart
Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg)
03:55
Composers: Mark Stewart - Martin Glover
03
Memory Of You
Mark Stewart
Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime (Bébe Durmiendo Cumbia Bootleg)
03:59
Composers: Mark Stewart