The Troggs singer Reg Presley dies aged 71
Reg Presley, the singer with The Troggs, has died at the age of 71.
The Troggs frontman Reg
Presley Photo: Steve Black / Rex
Features
His death came just over a year after he announced he had lung cancer and had
to “call time” on the band and retire.
Keith Altham, his close friend and music publicist, said he had died at his
home in Andover, Hampshire, surrounded by friends and family.
Altham announced the death of his "dear old pal" on his Facebook page, adding
that the 1960s rock star had suffered a number of strokes recently.
He said: "He was one very real person in a sometimes very unreal world. Our
thoughts are with his wife Brenda and the family and those legion of fans who
loved his music and his band. I will miss him hugely."
The Troggs - Reg Presley, Chris Britton, Pete Staples and Ronnie Bond (Rex)
04 Feb 2013
Presley's daughter Karen confirmed the death of her father to music website
WENN.
She told the website: "He passed away peacefully at home and myself, my brother and our mother were with him. We're absolutely heartbroken."
The singer announced to fans that he was suffering from lung cancer in January last year after being taken ill at a gig in Germany.
He said: "As you all know I was taken ill whilst doing a gig in Germany in December. “During my stay in hospital tests showed that in fact I have lung cancer. I am receiving chemotherapy treatment and at the moment not feeling too bad.
"However I've had to call time on The Troggs and retire. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the cards and calls and for your love, loyalty and support over the years."
Troggs frontman Reg Presley in 1995 (left) and with his band mates in 1967 with a lion during the recording of their single The Lion (PA)
Presley founded The Troggs in the early 1960s and only stopped touring last year.
The Andover band is best known for its 1960s hits Wild Thing and Love Is All Around.
Wild Thing was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic and was later covered by stars including Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen and countless bar bands over the years. The Troggs also scored a handful of other hits including With A Girl Like You and I Can't Control Myself before fading into obscurity in the 1970s.
For a while it looked as if they were going to be mainly remembered for the Troggs Tapes, an expletive-ridden recording of the band arguing in the studio.
The much bootlegged recording is often reported as the inspiration for the mockumentary Spinal Tap.
But their proto-punk sound kept them gigging and their reputation rose again in the 1990s when first REM and then Wet Wet Wet covered their 1967 hit Love Is All Around.
The band recorded an album with three members of REM and the success of the Wet Wet Wet version, which featured on the soundtrack of the hit film Four Weddings and a Funeral and spent 15 weeks at number one, allowed Presley to pursue his interest in crop circles and UFOs.
He published a book, Wild Things They Don't Tell Us, about the paranormal in 2002.
She told the website: "He passed away peacefully at home and myself, my brother and our mother were with him. We're absolutely heartbroken."
The singer announced to fans that he was suffering from lung cancer in January last year after being taken ill at a gig in Germany.
He said: "As you all know I was taken ill whilst doing a gig in Germany in December. “During my stay in hospital tests showed that in fact I have lung cancer. I am receiving chemotherapy treatment and at the moment not feeling too bad.
"However I've had to call time on The Troggs and retire. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the cards and calls and for your love, loyalty and support over the years."
Troggs frontman Reg Presley in 1995 (left) and with his band mates in 1967 with a lion during the recording of their single The Lion (PA)
Presley founded The Troggs in the early 1960s and only stopped touring last year.
The Andover band is best known for its 1960s hits Wild Thing and Love Is All Around.
Wild Thing was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic and was later covered by stars including Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen and countless bar bands over the years. The Troggs also scored a handful of other hits including With A Girl Like You and I Can't Control Myself before fading into obscurity in the 1970s.
For a while it looked as if they were going to be mainly remembered for the Troggs Tapes, an expletive-ridden recording of the band arguing in the studio.
The much bootlegged recording is often reported as the inspiration for the mockumentary Spinal Tap.
But their proto-punk sound kept them gigging and their reputation rose again in the 1990s when first REM and then Wet Wet Wet covered their 1967 hit Love Is All Around.
The band recorded an album with three members of REM and the success of the Wet Wet Wet version, which featured on the soundtrack of the hit film Four Weddings and a Funeral and spent 15 weeks at number one, allowed Presley to pursue his interest in crop circles and UFOs.
He published a book, Wild Things They Don't Tell Us, about the paranormal in 2002.
No comments:
Post a Comment