Jeffrey Runnings, Post-Punk Bassist and Voice of For Against, Dies at 61
Sad news to share today as For Against vocalist and bassist Jeffrey Runnings has died from stage 4 cancer. He was 61 years old.
Runnings formed For Against in 1984 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He originally played keyboard, but several personnel shifts led him to pick up the bass role in addition to singing. The band released its debut vinyl with the singles “Autocrat” and “It’s A Lie.”
Influenced by British bands, their post-punk and dream pop sound was unusual for a band from the Midwest at the time. Check out the tone and attack Runnings achieves on “Autocrat”.
Their first full-length, Echelons, would come in 1987, followed by 1988’s December, 1990’s In the Marshes, and 1993’s Aperture. The band’s lineup changed again in 1988 with the addition of Jeff Gaskins, moving Runnings to guitar. However, he would return to the bass again in 1991 with the departure of Gaskins.
For Against continued playing into the 2000s, their final LP being 2009’s Never Been. Runnings had recorded a solo album in 2024 called Piqued, which is slated for release later this year.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jeffrey Runnings.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
