Tributes pour in after Stranglers’ ‘keyboard genius’ loses his battle
DAVE Greenfield, keyboard player with veteran punk band The Stranglers, has died after testing positive for coronavirus.
Greenfield, 71, passed away on Sunday evening following a prolonged stay in hospital for heart problems.
He was known for his distinctive sound and playing style. He penned the piece of music that would become Golden Brown, the band’s biggest hit.
Stranglers bass player JeanJacques Burnel paid tribute to Greenfield as a “musical genius”.
He 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.”
Drummer Jet Black added: “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.”
Current vocalist and guitarist Baz Warne 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.
“We stood together on the same side of the stage for 20 years, laughed, joked and shared our lives in the way that only band mates can. I’ll miss him forever.”
The band’s manager Sil Willcox said: “We are all in shock, Dave was a kind, generous soul who had time for anyone and everyone and it has been my privilege to have known him as both a close friend and his manager for over 40 years.
“Our thoughts are with his wife
Pam at this sad time.”
The Stranglers, formed in 1974 in Guildford, Surrey, recently postponed this summer’s farewell tour due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Greenfield, who played on wellloved tracks including Peaches and No More Heroes, was compared with Ray Manzarek, from the Doors, who also used “rapid arpeggios” to create dynamism in his music.