Steve Strange has passed away...

[max_tranmere]

Do people remember him, one of the founders of the New Romantic scene in the early-1980's. He was in the band 'Visage' and had huge success worldwide which brought money and luxury with it. His life took a downturn later when he was accused of shoplifting, he had long since moved on from the huge houses and private jets and was by then living above a shop in Bridgend, Wales, on the dole. He died of a heart attack, aged 55. RIP.

[Arginald Valleywater]

A real innovator.

[number 6]

still a young man, RIP

[MegaTon]

Remember him and the whole scene back then.
A shame a talented fellow and only 55. RIP

[max_tranmere]

Gary Kemp from Spandau Ballet were obviously part of that scene and knew him well. They were the house band at Billy's and Blitz, the two clubs Steve Strange was heavily involved in, back in the days before they were famous. Spandau Ballet performed a gig last night in SanRemo and he's what Gary Kemp said after on Twitter:

"Spandau in tears tonight. We dedicated our performance to Steve Strange. Without him we would never have been here. A maverick to the end."


RIP Steve.

[MrTickle]

If you go on youtube you can see some early footage of Steve Strange, Martin Kemp, Boy George(when he was just George) and that whole New Romantic scene.

[Milk Tray Man]

Sad for his friends, family and fans that he's gone. But amid all the usual emoting and eulogising of him as "one of the greats" that we see whenever someone in the music business turns his toes up, did he ever actually do anything of note apart from "Fade To Grey"?

[max_tranmere]

I cant think of much else, it terms of very successful songs he was involved in, but he was such a pioneer of that scene - which gave us Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Culture Club, and others, that he has always been remembered. Boy George said sometime later that none of it would have happened without David Bowie, much admired by all the people I've mentioned here. When David Bowie shuffles off he'll receive greater accolades than Steve Strange has been receiving - but Steve Strange certainly deserves a lot of accolades. Without him the scene wouldn't have developed.

I've always found it odd that the punk scene was what preceeded the New Romantic scene, the two could not have been more different. One aggressive, involving rough clothing - and one gentle and effeminate involving girly make up and frilly shirts! Lol. How one gave way to the other is hard to fathom. One of the main people involved, I forget his name, was interviewed on a programme I once watched about the New Romantic scene - this was many years later. He was talking about how he, and he is quite small and very gay, used to walk around London dressed in his perculiar clothing and make up. I remember he said "if you were walking along Kilburn High Road on a Saturday afternoon and a load of beer boys were coming the other way, I wouldn't fancy your chances!". No kidding! Lol.

[max_tranmere]

I read Martin Kemp's autobiography some years ago and he mentioned how he and Steve Strange sometimes shared a room when touring, as part of different bands, in the early-80's. They had separate beds. Steve was openly gay and he would try to get Martin, who isn't gay, to join him in his bed. Martin kept telling him to get lost! The two were always friends, in spite of Steve's unsuccessful attempts to woo him. Lol.

[Milk Tray Man]

That's just it though, so often the same old "it could never have happened without him" eulogies get trotted out whenever some muso shuffles off. In a few cases it may be true but much more often I find myself thinking it's all a bit of an exaggeration to say the least.