Greg Kihn, the San Francisco power-pop musician best known for “The Breakup Song” and “Jeopardy”, died on 13 August 2024 aged 75 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. The article marks the second anniversary of his death by highlighting his influence as a performer, songwriter, radio presenter and horror novelist, portraying him as a lasting figure in Bay Area rock culture.

Born in Baltimore in 1949, Kihn moved to the San Francisco area in the early 1970s and formed the Greg Kihn Band after signing with Beserkley Records. The band’s breakthrough came when “The Breakup Song” reached number 15 in the US charts in 1981, followed by “Jeopardy” at number two in 1983; he also wrote the Bram Stoker Award-nominated novel Horror Show and hosted Bay Area radio for 18 years.