The keyboardist, organist and founding member of the 1960s prog-rock band Soft Machine, Mike Ratledge, has died after a short illness on February 5 2025, aged 81. The announcement came from his former band member, John Etheridge, who wrote on facebook: “Incredibly sad news that my great friend and Soft Machine legend passed away two hours ago after a brief illness. […] What a loss to all of us and his sisters and wonderful girlfriend Elena, who were with him at the end.”
Born in Kent in 1943, Mike Ratledge co-founded Soft Machine in 1966 alongside Daevid Allen, Robert Wyatt, and Kevin Ayers. As the band’s lineup evolved, Ratledge remained its longest-serving founding member, ultimately departing in 1976. His tenure with Soft Machine coincided with the golden age of British progressive rock, where the band stood at the forefront alongside Pink Floyd. The band stood at the forefront of the Canterbury Scene – a form of prog-rock that emerged in Kent in the early 60s and 70s defined by its blend of psychedelic rock jazz techniques. As the only original member to stay through the group’s stylistic transformation in the 70s, Ratledge played a crucial role in steering Soft Machine away from prog rock and deeper into jazz fusion.
Ratledge and John Etheridge crossed paths on just one album. When Etheridge joined, he recorded two albums, including 1976’s ‘Softs’—the last to feature Ratledge before his departure. Despite this the pair remained friends, as Etheridge wrote: “Mike was the backbone of Soft Machine in the early years and a man with an absolutely incisive mind – a marvellous composer and keyboardist. A real renaissance man – so talented, cultured, charming – and a wonderful companion. We used to meet every few weeks for over 40 years – a treat for me.”
After leaving Soft Machine, Ratledge withdrew from the public eye, shifting his focus to composing film soundtracks contributing to projects like the 1977 experimental film Riddle of the Sphinx. Unlike some of his former bandmates, he never pursued a solo career in rock or jazz, leaving behind a legacy rooted in his pioneering work with Soft Machine. He did collaborate with Mike Oldfield and composer David Bedford, as well as his former Soft Machine bandmate Karl Jenkins on the ‘Adiemus: Songs Of Sanctuary’ album.
Since the news of his death – surrounded by loved ones – there have been an outpouring of tributes to a man who had many in the industry considered to be an irreplaceable talent. As music writer Sid Smith put it, “He had such a distinctive and inventive voice as a soloist. I count myself lucky to have seen him play several times. A brilliant composer, he was also cool as fuck.”
RIP Mike Ratledge pic.twitter.com/dbxJNFBrjK
— Burning Shed (@burningshednews) February 5, 2025
Though Ratledge largely stepped away from the spotlight after his time with Soft Machine, his influence on progressive rock and jazz fusion remains undeniable. His distinctive keyboard work, adventurous compositions, and role in shaping the band’s evolution left a lasting imprint on the genre. While he spent his later years away from public life, his legacy endures through the groundbreaking music he helped create—an indelible mark on the landscape of experimental and progressive sound.
