Oh bloody hell, not another one
I love some of Japan's earlier work (the 'Quiet Life' period) mainly because of Mick's bass playing, and he was a major influence on me when I decided to make the leap to playing fretless bass. Between him and Geddy Lee I'm the four-string axe murderer I am today ...
52 is too young an age to die, especially with that level of talent.
RIP
EDIT: at least we still have things like this to remember him by:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtz8x0mLpz8 ("Quiet Life" video from 1981 - I remember my sister had a major crush on David Sylvian, and that bass that MK is playing is to die for
)