Saw Karl live with the Waterboys a couple of times back in the mid-80s. The Waterboys of '85 & '86 with Karl, Mike Scott and Anto Thistlewaite were probably the best live band around in those days. Well, to my ears they were. Wasn't so fussed on his solo stuff though. He suffered a brain aneurysm in 2001 which could have lead to his passing, as the cause of death hasn't been announced yet.
R.I.P. to a wonderful musician.