James Lowe, founding member and lead vocalist of the pioneering psychedelic rock band The Electric Prunes, has died at the age of 82. According to a statement posted by his family on Facebook, Lowe passed away from natural causes on May 29, 2025. “He leaves behind a legacy of sound, love, and boundless creativity,” the post reads.

Lowe helped shape the psychedelic sound of the 1960s, fronting a band that would become synonymous with the surreal, distortion-laden textures of the era.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1965, The Electric Prunes – boasting a name initially beginning as a joke – quickly carved out a space in the fast-evolving rock landscape. The band experienced a tumultuous musical career with Lowe admitting that the band were learning to play their instruments as they went along with members coming and going throughout the years.

The band’s second 1966  single ‘I Had Too Much To Dream (last night)‘ secured a spot in the upper tier of the Billboard Hot 100 as well as featuring on the compilation ‘Nuggets’. The song had a major influence on the emerging psychedelic scene and is cited as a pioneering track in the genre. The song and the band as a whole influenced many artists who sought to push the boundaries of rock and explore new sonic landscapes.

James Lowe was born in San Luis Obispo in California in March 1943. As a teenager he was an active performer in California’s folk scene and worked in Rocket Engine Production. He then formed rock band The Sanctions which eventually evolved into The Electric Prunes. Following the band’s first split in 1970, Lowe worked as a recording engineer. His studio credits include early work with Sparks and all three albums by Nazz, the influential proto-power pop band featuring Todd Rundgren. Lowe then left the music industry to work in television production, where he worked until the end of his life.

Despite his varied career, Lowe never strayed far from music. In a 2000 interview, he reflected: “Take away the profit motive and all of that greed, and you get back to trying to make a good record… it’s very hard.” On The Electric Prunes, he simply said: “Some things are meant to be short and sweet. Life is but a dream.”

Katja Ringholz, a friend and fan of the singer, speaking on his death shared that “his melodies, his lyrics, his performance – all of it was an expression of his soul. He had the unique gift of transforming feelings into sounds and reaching all of us with them”.

Lowe was the last surviving member of The Electric Prunes’ original line-up. His contribution to music both in the band and through his work in the music industry has had a lasting influence on the continually developing rock scenes and subsequent influence on generations of musicians and fans alike.