Ian 'Ollie' Olsen, a significant figure in Australia's post-punk scene and a pioneer in experimental electronic music, has died aged 66.

Olsen "died peacefully in his sleep" while under care at Royal Melbourne Hospital "with his wife Jayne at his side", according to statement shared on the artist's social media accounts. 

A multi-instrumentalist, composer, and sound designer, Olsen was a celebrated figure in the Australian underground music scene.

Regarded as a trailblazer, he was the creative force of '70s post-punk bands The Young Charlatans and Whirlywirld, and numerable bands and projects thereafter, including Orchestra of Skin and Bone, NO, Third Eye, Hugo Klang, Taipan Tiger Girls, and Max Q, alongside INXS singer Michael Hutchence. 

Olsen also wrote 'Rooms For The Memory', a rare Hutchence solo single, that became an Australian Top 10 hit in 1987. 

"I've had a very strange musical trajectory," Olsen told Double J in 2021.

"I've worked on operas, I've worked with orchestras, I've done so many things that you wouldn't imagine I could have done. But I just do whatever turns up … I'll have a go at it. 

Olsen is set to be inducted into Music Victoria's Hall of Fame next week, and the news came at a time when family, friends, and fans were rallying behind him to make a recovery after his health had "significantly declined." 

Last week, a campaign by Australian music charity Support Act sought to raise $35,000 to "help cover the medical expenses" for Olsen's full-time hospital care.

"Thank you for your support over the years, if you wish to help Jayne with funeral costs, you may do so via Ollie's last fundraiser via Support Act," the statement from Olsen's family reads.

Olsen was at the vanguard of punk in the late '70s, first with the short-lived group Young Charlatans (alongside The Boys Next Door/Birthday Party guitarist Rowland Howard), and then with his post-punk outfit Whirlywirld.

Co-founded with drummer John Murphy, Whirlywirld saw Olsen slowly abandon guitar in favour of trailblazing synthesisers, incorporating a line-up featuring future Models keyboardist Andrew Duffield and Simon Smith.

Olsen went on to form a handful of influential groups throughout the 1980s, including Hugo Klang, Orchestra of Skin and Bone, and NO.

At the close of the decade, he joined with INXS frontman Michael Hutchence to form Max Q, a short-lived project that followed on from the pair meeting and working on the cult 1986 Australian film Dogs In Space.

Max Q released a self-titled album in 1989, which achieved Gold sales status thanks to minor hits 'Way of the World' and 'Sometimes'.

"I miss Michael every day, the time I spent with him was amazing," Olsen said following Hutchence's death by suicide in 1997. 

"We both spoke about making new music together just before he passed away. He was a very soulful person with a great deal of passion and humour."

In the 1990s, Olsen turned his attention to trance and dance music, co-founding the electronic record label Psy-Harmonics in 1993. 

He was also an early adopter of the internet, helping run Psychic Harmony, a club night hosted at Carlton venue Dream (now called Illusion) that was frequented by Julian Asange.

Throughout the '90s, Olsen released music under the aliases Third Eye, Primitive Ghost, and Ecco Homo.

Formed in 1990 with vocalist Troy Davies, Ecco Homo only released two singles but famously enlisted U2 frontman Bono and guitarist The Edge for their obscure dance track 'New York, New York'.

Olsen also worked in sound design, composed scores for film and television, and even lectured and taught electronic music at various universities.

In 2014, he formed the experimental drone band Taipan Tiger Girls.

In 2020, Olsen was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy (MSA) – a rare neurological disorder that causes certain areas of the brain to deteriorate alongside complex physical symptoms.

In recent years, the musician's health struggles included heart-related issues and dysphagia, a condition that prohibits swallowing, resulting in the need for full-time hospital care.

Last year, Magic Dirt frontwoman Adalita teamed with Andrew Duffield and Mick Harvey for a reworked version of 'Rooms For The Memory' to raise funds for Olsen. 

Following his death, Olsen is to be inducted into Music Victoria's Hall of Fame during the annual music awards' ceremony on Thursday, October 24.

Music Victoria CEO Simone Schinkel said Olsen was "easily the people's choice" for a Hall of Fame induction.

"Music Victoria has been overwhelmed with calls for his induction dating back many years. 

"He is a true artist and visionary in every sense of the word, consistently forging his own path, delivering groundbreaking sounds with each new decade, influencing generations of musicians, and we're proud to celebrate his enduring legacy."