'Twin Peaks' Singer Julee Cruise Dies Aged 65

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Dream pop legend Julee Cruise has passed away aged 65, announced by her husband Edward Grinnan in a Facebook post. 

Grinnan stated that Cruise left the world 'on her own terms'. The singer, best known for her work creating ethereal movie and television soundtracks, including the theme to Twin Peaks, had struggled in recent years from debilitating auto-immune disease lupus as well as bouts of depression, alcohol and drug addiction.

Emerging in the mid-'80s, Cruise teamed up with Angelo Badalamenti and director David Lynch for the soundtrack of Blue Velvet, a partnership that would set the scene for their work going forward. 

The soundtrack became an instant classic, leading to the trio's work on Twin Peaks, their best-known collaboration. Cruise recorded a vocal version of the show's theme, Falling which became a global hit, but nowhere bigger than here in Australia where the TV show captivated the nation and the single soared to an ARIA #1 position.

Cruise went on to create three albums of her own, all with the trademark dream-pop vocals and emotive melodies which were highly influential on the development of the dream-pop genre and one of its most commercially successful outings. 

In the mid-'90s Cruise joined the touring party of The B-52s, filling in for Cindy Wilson who left the road to have a family. In his statement on her passing, her husband recalled her time with the band as one of her happiest:

“When she first stepped up to the mic with Fred and Kate she said it was like joining the Beatles. She will love them always and never forget their travels together around the world. I played her Roam during her transition. Now she will roam forever. Rest In Peace, my love, and love to you all.”

Cruise's career continued with two late-career albums, 2002's Art Of Being A Girl and 2011's My Secret Life, produced by Deee-lite's DJ Dmitry. Both albums were a departure from her earlier work, moving into a more electronic and jazz-influenced style. She was a frequent collaborator with tracks over the years with Moby, Pharrell Williams, DJ Silver, Delerium and more. 

In 2000 Cruise provided the vocals for Aussie act B(if)tek's cover of Cliff Richard's Wired For Sound and appeared in the video. 

She appeared in the 2017 renewed season of Twin Peaks, performing The World Spins from her debut album, another track that was also used in the earlier series. The track uses the familiar bass style that made Falling so recognisable, renewing interest in her work to a new generation.