The Balearic newspaper Última Hora has reported the death of Joan Roca, bassist of Antònia Font, at the age of 53, after a long illness.
Roca joined the Mallorcan group in the first years of their career, during the recording of ‘A Rússia’, and remained in the group until their separation in 2013. His bass was present in all the subsequent albums, contributing to Antònia Font’s characteristic sound in such celebrated works as ‘Alegria’, ‘Taxi’, ‘Batiscafo Katiuscas’, ‘Lamparetes’ or ‘Vostè éshere’.
With the reunion of the band in 2022, Roca returned to the stage with Joan Miquel Oliver, Pau Debon, Pere Debon and Jaume Manresa, also participating in the album ‘Un minut estroboscòpica’, which marked the return of one of the most important groups in Catalan music.
His last concert with Antònia Font was last June at Mallorca Live Festival, a tremendous performance that no one could imagine would end up being a farewell. It is unknown if their upcoming concert at MOBO Fest goes ahead.
