Greg Kihn, the influential rock musician celebrated for his hits “Jeopardy” and “The Breakup Song,” has passed away at the age of 75. Kihn died on Tuesday, August 13, after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s disease, as announced in a tribute on his official website.
The tribute highlighted Kihn’s dynamic stage presence and compelling storytelling, which enchanted audiences worldwide. “He was more than a musician; he was a cultural icon whose legacy will endure through the ages,” the statement read.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 10, 1949, Kihn’s passion for music emerged early in his life. Relocating to San Francisco in the early 1970s, he founded the Greg Kihn Band, which released five albums. The band gained significant recognition with the release of “The Breakup Song,” which climbed to No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. This success earned them opportunities to open for iconic acts like the Rolling Stones and Journey. Kihn’s subsequent hit, “Jeopardy,” soared to No. 2 on the charts.
Reflecting on the creation of “Jeopardy,” Kihn described it as a spontaneous inspiration. “It felt like the song was floating in the air, and I just caught it,” he wrote on his website. “I began singing ‘our love’s in Jeopardy, whoo-whoo-whoo’ without premeditation. Steve [Wright] and I immediately recognized we had created something special.”
Kihn’s musical repertoire also included notable tracks such as “Remember” and “Lucky,” with his last album, Rekihdled, released in 2017. In addition to his music career, he was a well-regarded radio personality, hosting morning shows on KFOX for 17 years and later working as a nighttime radio host across the country.
An accomplished author, Kihn published several novels and short stories, including Painted Black, Rubber Soul, Horror Show, Shade of Pale, Big Rock Beat, Mojo Hand, and Carved in Rock.
Kihn is survived by his wife Jay Arafiles-Kihn, his children Ryan and Alexis Harrington-Kihn, his son-in-law Samora Harrington, grandsons Nate and Zuri, his sister Lauren Otremba, and brother-in-law Lou Otremba Jr.
A private memorial will be held for family and close friends, with a public celebration of Kihn’s life to be announced in the near future. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Kihn’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association to support research efforts to combat Alzheimer’s disease.