Mars Williams, saxophonist of the Psychedelic Furs and Liquid Soul, dies at 68 from cancer

Mars Williams, saxophonist of the Psychedelic Furs and Liquid Soul, has died. He was 68.

The Chicago native died on Monday from ampullary cancer, his brother Paul told the Chicago Tribune.

The Psychedelic Furs also posted a tribute to their late bandmate on their official Instagram page Monday. "We're heartbroken 💔. Goodbye to the great Mars Williams. Rest well," the band wrote alongside a photo of Williams' saxophone on a stage.

USA TODAY reached out to reps for Williams.

Liquid Soul previously announced a benefit concert at Metro Chicago to help fund treatment for Williams' cancer. Ampullary cancer is a rare form of cancer that spreads in the digestive system near the small intestines and pancreas, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The benefit concert is now a celebration of life and Williams' musical legacy, per the Chicago Tribune and Axios.

Richard Butler, Zachary Alford and Rich Good of Psychedelic Furs, Joe Marcinek Band and Jesse De La Peña, Jeff Coffin of Dave Matthews Band, Richard Fortus of Guns N’ Roses and Ike Reilly will also pay tribute to the late saxophonist at the event.

"Mars is a strong player. I need two saxophone players to play this show, just to replace him," Liquid Soul trumpeter Ron Haynes, who organized the benefit concert, previously told the Chicago Tribute.

In addition to his work with the Psychedelic Furs and Liquid Soul, Williams recorded and performed music with Billy Idol, The Killers and "virtually every leading figure of Chicago’s and New York City's 'downtown' scene," according to his website.

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Williams also taught classes on woodwind instruments and jazz history at Bard College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the University of Chicago, Roosevelt University and the June Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.

"It’s so infectious, Mars’s love of playing, in every sense of that word," guitarist Steve Marquette, who played and toured with Williams, told the Chicago Tribune. "Sometimes, the academically rigorous language that gets used around this music takes a front seat to that joy of making sound. But Mars’ music is never about pushing people away. It’s a pure and honest form of expression."

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