Julia Brightly

British guitarist, singer, sound engineer, producer, writer, painter, and radio broadcaster (1959-3 May 2014). Before coming out as transgender in 2009 Julia Brightly's name was Stephen Wright. Just as her first band Bim went down the dumper, Julia Brightly was picked as Kevin Armstrong's replacement in The Passions. She formed the Mute Drivers with Dave Rogers which lasted from 1986 to 1990, and worked with Wire as their soundman. She later worked as sound engineer for the likes of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars, Slint, Caribou, Mogwai, Knife, and many others. Julia Brightly died on 3 May 2014 from sudden, aggressive cancer. On 29 July 2014 a benefit concert to celebrate her was held at the Koko in Camden, London featuring Mogwai, The Twilight Sad, and Fuck Buttons. Dan Snaith paid tribute to her with the track "Julia Brightly" from the Caribou album Our Love.