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Steve Strange, the lead singer of 80s pop outfit Visage, has passed away.
The news was confirmed today by BBC News, with Strange reported to have suffered a heart attack. Strange died in hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on Thursday (February 12).
In December 2014, Strange had been admitted to hospital in Wales after suffering “breathing difficulties”. Reports at the time cited a “bronchial infection and an intestinal blockage”.
Strange’s agent, Pete Bassett, has released a statement, describing the Welsh musician as “a hard-working, very amusing and lovable individual who always was at the forefront of fashion trends”.
Bassett added: “Up until last year he was putting together a book of fashion styles based on the New Romantic movement and it comes as a great shock. We understood that he had certain health problems but nothing we knew was life threatening. His friends and family are totally shocked, we had no idea anything like this was likely to happen.”
Tributes have poured in from Strange’s music peers, with Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon tweeting that Strange was “the leading edge of New Romantic”. Billy Idol, meanwhile, tweeted: “Very sad to hear of my friend Steve Strange passing, RIP mate.”
Strange was born Steven John Harrington in Monmouthshire, Wales in 1959. He’s best known for his hit single “Fade To Grey“.
Photo credit: Fin Costello/Redferns