James Lowe, lead singer of the Electric Prunes, known for their hit “I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night),” has died at the age of 82. The family did not provide a cause of death, but did reveal that Lowe “passed away on May 22, 2025, from natural causes — suddenly, yet peacefully — surrounded by family and music.” The Electric Prunes debut track, “Ain’t It Hard,” failed to chart, but their iconic second single, “I Had Too Much to Dream,” rose to No. 11 on the Hot 100. A third release, “Get Me to the World on Time,” eventually peaked at No. 27, while their self-titled debut album only rose to No. 113 on the Billboard 200 chart. Lowe left the group in 1968, following the release of their final album with the original lineup, Underground. Lowe transitioned to engineering and producing for artists like Sparks and Todd Rundgren, before venturing into commercial filmmaking. Lowe reunited with the Prunes in the ’90s and continued performing until his death. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, with the family calling Lowe “an elder statesman of rock ‘n’ roll — not just a witness to music history, but one of its architects.” (Variety)
