The New Romantic icon died of heart failure while in Egypt.
Steven John Harrington, aka Steve Strange, frontman of the synthpop band Visage, has died aged 55. The news was confirmed on the band’s offical Facebook page with a short message:
“We are extremely saddened to announce that Steve Strange died at 11.15 local time on Thursday 12th February, in Sharm El Sheik International Hospital, Egypt. Steve died in his sleep, of Heart Failure. Steve’s family, band members and friends are all distraught at this sudden news of his untimely death. Steve’s family request privacy at this extremely difficult time.”
Visage were best known for their iconic single ‘Fade To Grey’ (below), but Strange was also a vital component of London’s ’80s scene as the manager of the Blitz Club in Soho, the nucleus of the New Romantic movement and bands like Spandau Ballet and Culture Club.
Boy George tweeted he was “heartbroken” about the death of Strange, saying he was “such a big part of my life”, while Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon called him “the leading edge of New Romantic”. Fellow ’80s star Billy Idol tweeted: “Very sad to hear of my friend Steve Strange passing, RIP mate.”
Strange’s agent, Pete Bassett, said he would be remembered as “a hard-working, very amusing and lovable individual who always was at the forefront of fashion trends”, adding that Strange had recently been putting together a book of fashion styles based on the New Romantic movement.