The Stranglers’ keyboard player Dave Greenfield has died aged 71 after testing positive for coronavirus.
Greenfield, who was originally from Brighton, reportedly died in hospital on Sunday evening.
The musician had originally checked into hospital for heart problems, but tragically contracted the virus during his stay.
Greenfield is best remembered as the iconic keyboard player for punk group The Stranglers, experimenting with unusual instruments from the harpsichord to the Hammond electric organ.
Though the group initially overlooked the track, he wrote their hit 1981 song Golden Brown, which later won the group an Ivor Novello award.
Dave Greenfield has died aged 71 after testing positive for coronavirus (Image: PA)
The group paid tribute to his legacy over social media, praising their “great friend and longstanding colleague” in a moving post.
Bass player Jean-Jacques JJ Burnel said: “On the evening of Sunday May 3rd, my great friend and longstanding colleague of 45 years, the musical genius that was Dave Greenfield, passed away as one of the victims of the Great Pandemic of 2020.
“All of us in the worldwide Stranglers’ family grieve and send our sincerest condolences to Pam.”
Drummer Jet Black added: “We have just lost a dear friend and music genius, and so has the whole world.
Greenfield wrote the 1981 song Golden Brown for The Stranglers (Image: Daily Mirror)
“Dave was a complete natural in music. Together, we toured the globe endlessly and it was clear he was adored by millions. A huge talent, a great loss, he is dearly missed.”
Vocalist and guitarist Baz Warne also said: “We lost a true innovator, musical legend, and one of my dearest friends today.
“The word genius is bandied around far too easily in this day and age, but Dave Greenfield certainly was one.
The band have paid tribute to the musician’s legacy over social media (Image: PA)
“We stood together on the same side of the stage for 20 years, laughed, joked and shared our lives in the way that only bandmates can. I’ll miss him forever.
“Our thoughts and hearts are with his wife Pam, and to the millions of fans who worshipped at his altar, he’ll never be equalled.”
The group postponed their farewell tour earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, more than three decades after they were first formed in Guildford.
Since news of his death broke, tributes have been flooding in over social media, with music buffs paying their respects to Greenfield’s legacy as a keyboardist.
Greenfield is survived by his wife Pam.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
