Steve Strange (Born Steven Harrington) May 28, 1959 – February 12, 2015
Steve Strange is perhaps best remembered as the front man for the popular ’80s new wave band, Visage. Like many young people in the UK during the mid ’70s, Strange couldn’t resist the pull of punk rock. After witnessing a Sex Pistols show in 1976, he began setting up gigs for punk bands in and around his Welsh neighborhood. Soon thereafter, he formed his own punk band, the Moors Murderers that counted future Pretenders leader Chrissie Hynde and future Clash drummer, Topper Headon, as members during it’s rather short lifespan. Strange soon moved to London where he worked for Malcolm McLaren before forming Visage in 1978. The group helped pioneer the New Romantic movement which also included such acts as Duran Duran, Culture Club and Spandau Ballet. Visage’s second single, 1980’s “Fade To Grey,” was a big hit across the UK and beyond. More hit singles and albums followed until Strange closed the initial chapter on the band in 1985. During the late ’80s and early ’90s, Strange developed into a popular club DJ, helping to popularize the trance movement in its early days. In 2004, he reformed Visage which continued on in one form or another through the remainder of his life. Steve Strange passed away following a heart attack on February 12, 2015. He was 55.
Huw Lloyd-Langton (Born Richard Hugh Lloyd-Langton) February 6, 1951 – December 6, 2012
Huw Lloyd-Langton was an English guitarist and singer who is perhaps best remembered as a three-time member of space rock pioneers, Hawkwind. The band, which famously included Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead at one time, was a direct influence on the likes of Al Jourgensen of Ministry, Henry Rollins, Monster Magnet, and the Sex Pistols, who covered their “Silver Machine.” Born outside of London, Lloyd-Langton joined Hawkwind in time to play on their debut self-titled album of 1970. Although the long-player was not a commercial success, it is held in high regard since it was one of the first space rock albums in history. Lloyd-Langton left the band two years after its release due to an illness. Aside from Hawkwind, he played with Leo Sayer, the Bonzo Dog Band, Pretty Things, Widowmaker, and his own Lloyd-Langton Group. He re-joined Hawkwind in 1979, and played on their albums, Live Seventy Nine and Levitation. He left the group again during the late ’80s only to rejoin in 2001 until a bout with Legionnaires Disease forced him to depart for good. In later years, he could be heard opening for the Hawkwind as a solo act. On December 6, 2012, Huw Lloyd-Langton passed away following a 2-year battle with cancer. He was 61.
John Du Cann was an English guitarist and singer who is most often acknowledged for his work with ’70s psych rock outfit, Atomic Rooster. He also played in the Attack, the Sonics (UK), and Andromeda – all bands who were on the front end of the progressive rock movement. Initially in Andromeda, Du Cann to join Atomic Rooster in 1970 to play guitar and sang lead. The band soon released Death Walks Behind You which included the UK hit, “Tomorrow Night,” resulting in the album ultimately reaching #12 on the UK charts. He took part in the band’s follow-up, In Hearing Of Atomic Rooster, but left shortly after its release only to briefly rejoin the band in 1980. In 1974, Du Cann filled in on guitar for a Thin Lizzy tour of Germany. He also recorded at least one solo album, 1977’s (but not released until 1992) The World’s Not Big Enough, which some have compared to a cross between Status Quo and the Sex Pistols. In 1979, he scored a #33 UK hit with “Don’t Be A Dummy.” As reported by Sea Of Tranquility, John Du Cann died of a suspected heart attack on September 21, 2011. Depending upon your source, he was either 65 or 66. Atomic Rooster’s Vincent Crane passed away in 1989.
Thanks David Plastik of eRockPhotos for the assist.
Poly Styrene (Born Marianne Elliott-Said) July 3, 1957 – April 25, 2011
Poly Styrene was the lead singer and songwriter for the great British punk band, X-Ray Spex. Formed in 1976, the band, despite the fact that they initially released just five singles and one long-player, became one of the most important groups of the original punk movement. After running away from home at 15, Styrene bounced from one music festival to another until she eventually ended up at an early Sex Pistols gig which inspired her to form a punk band. The band’s first album Germ Free Adolescents is by most accounts one of the greatest punk – if not rock – albums ever made. Its “Oh Bondage, Up Yours” is widely recognized as a flash point for punk rock. After the band broke up in 1979, Styrene released a solo album Translucence which had more of a jazzy sound and reportedly inspired the likes of Everything But The Girl. She continued to release music, both solo and with a reformed version of X-Ray Spex, over the next two decades. She also lent her name and voice to various social causes throughout the years. In February 2011, it was announced that Poly Styrene was suffering from breast cancer. She was 53 years old when she died from the disease on April 25, 2011.
Thanks to Bruce Kilgour, Mike Woodford, and Su for the help
James Freud (Born Colin McGlinchey) June 29, 1959 – November 4, 2010
James Freud is best remembered as the lead singer and bassist for ’80s Australian new wave rock band, the Models. Formed in Melbourne (originally without Freud) in 1979, musically the Models had much in common with fellow countrymen, INXS, including a handsome and charismatic front man in Freud. Over the next ten years, the group scored a handful of moderate hits, both in Australia and the U.S., but they never quite broke out of cult status. Freud was just 16 when he formed his first band, and after hearing the Sex Pistols a year later, he realized rock ‘n roll was his true calling. By the end of the ’70s, James Freud & the Radio Stars were causing a local stir and were quickly signed to Australia’s storied Mushroom Records. Their first single “Modern Girl” was successful enough to land them on a Gary Numan tour. Freud then joined the Models in 1982, and went on to write a some of their biggest hits. Records like “Barbados” and “Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight” helped them become one of Australia’s post-punk bands. After they broke up in 1988, Freud embarked on a solo career which included Mushroom’s most expensive album to date, Step Into The Heat. He also wrote two autobiographies, I Am The Voice Left From Drinking and I Am The Voice Left From Rehab, in which he chronicled his career in music and his struggles with substance abuse. On November 4, 2010, 51-year-old James Freud was found dead from what was reported to be a suicide. Just several days earlier, he and the Models were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Steve Strange is perhaps best remembered as the front man for the popular ’80s new wave band, Visage. Like many young people in the UK during the mid ’70s, Strange couldn’t resist the pull of punk rock. After witnessing a Sex Pistols show in 1976, he began setting up gigs for punk bands in and around his Welsh neighborhood. Soon thereafter, he formed his own punk band, the Moors Murderers that counted future Pretenders leader Chrissie Hynde and future Clash drummer, Topper Headon, as members during it’s rather short lifespan. Strange soon moved to London where he worked for Malcolm McLaren before forming Visage in 1978. The group helped pioneer the New Romantic movement which also included such acts as Duran Duran, Culture Club and Spandau Ballet. Visage’s second single, 1980’s “Fade To Grey,” was a big hit across the UK and beyond. More hit singles and albums followed until Strange closed the initial chapter on the band in 1985. During the late ’80s and early ’90s, Strange developed into a popular club DJ, helping to popularize the trance movement in its early days. In 2004, he reformed Visage which continued on in one form or another through the remainder of his life. Steve Strange passed away following a heart attack on February 12, 2015. He was 55.
Huw Lloyd-Langton was an English guitarist and singer who is perhaps best remembered as a three-time member of space rock pioneers, Hawkwind. The band, which famously included 
Poly Styrene was the lead singer and songwriter for the great British punk band, X-Ray Spex. Formed in 1976, the band, despite the fact that they initially released just five singles and one long-player, became one of the most important groups of the original punk movement. After running away from home at 15, Styrene bounced from one music festival to another until she eventually ended up at an early Sex Pistols gig which inspired her to form a punk band. The band’s first album Germ Free Adolescents is by most accounts one of the greatest punk – if not rock – albums ever made. Its “Oh Bondage, Up Yours” is widely recognized as a flash point for punk rock. After the band broke up in 1979, Styrene released a solo album Translucence which had more of a jazzy sound and reportedly inspired the likes of Everything But The Girl. She continued to release music, both solo and with a reformed version of X-Ray Spex, over the next two decades. She also lent her name and voice to various social causes throughout the years. In February 2011, it was announced that Poly Styrene was suffering from breast cancer. She was 53 years old when she died from the disease on April 25, 2011.
James Freud is best remembered as the lead singer and bassist for ’80s Australian new wave rock band, the Models. Formed in Melbourne (originally without Freud) in 1979, musically the Models had much in common with fellow countrymen, INXS, including a handsome and charismatic front man in Freud. Over the next ten years, the group scored a handful of moderate hits, both in Australia and the U.S., but they never quite broke out of cult status. Freud was just 16 when he formed his first band, and after hearing the Sex Pistols a year later, he realized rock ‘n roll was his true calling. By the end of the ’70s, James Freud & the Radio Stars were causing a local stir and were quickly signed to Australia’s storied Mushroom Records. Their first single “Modern Girl” was successful enough to land them on a Gary Numan tour. Freud then joined the Models in 1982, and went on to write a some of their biggest hits. Records like “Barbados” and “Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight” helped them become one of Australia’s post-punk bands. After they broke up in 1988, Freud embarked on a solo career which included Mushroom’s most expensive album to date, Step Into The Heat. He also wrote two autobiographies, 