Ray Mayhew, who was the drummer in the iconic 80s band Sigue Sigue Sputnik, has died, it has been confirmed. His bandmate Martin Degville has paid tribute to the star
Ray Mayhew, a member of the legendary punk pop band Sique Sique Sputnik, has died. The sad news was announced by bandmate Martin Degville, who hailed him as a ‘force of light that shone so brightly. ‘.
In a heartfelt Facebook tribute, Martin shared: “It is with great sadness that I have been informed today that my best friend and drummer of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Ray Mayhew, has passed away. May God bless you – you will forever be in my thoughts, and also in the hearts of the fans who love you. You were a force, a light that shone so brightly. Rest in peace, mate. Love you always.”
The star’s death occurred on August 28, but no additional details or cause of death were provided. Sigue Sigue Sputnik, formed in 1982 by ex-Generation X bassist Tony James, scored three UK top-40 hit singles, including Love Missile F1-11 and 21st Century Boy.
They later collaborated with famed producers Stock Aitken Waterman on their 1988 single Success. The record producing and song-writing trio were renowned for their golden touch in the 80s, penning hit singles for stars like Kylie Minogue, Bananarama and Dead or Alive.
The band’s music, image and inspiration drew from a range of electronic and glam bands such as Suicide and the New York Dolls.
Mick Jones, formerly of the Clash, worked with the band in their early days as their live sound engineer and helped them hone their sound before they opened for New Model Army on tour.
Boomtown Rats’ manager Fachtna O’Kelly also helped the band launch – providing them with equipment and also their name. Sigue Sigue Sputnik was a supposed reference to a Russian street gang and is ‘burn burn satellite’ in English.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
