New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The
Stranglers keyboard player Dave Greenfield has died at the age of 71 after testing positive for Covid-19.
Greenfield died on Sunday having contracted the virus after a prolonged stay in hospital for heart problems.
He penned the band's biggest hit, Golden Brown, a song about heroin, which went to number two on the UK singles chart in 1982.
The
Stranglers bass player Jean-Jacques "JJ" Burnel paid tribute to Greenfield as a "musical genius": "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.
All of us in the worldwide Stranglers' family grieve and send our sincerest condolences to [Greenfield's wife] Pam."
Drummer Jet
Black added: "We have just lost a dear friend and music genius, and so has the whole world: "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."
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 bandmates can. I'll miss him forever.
Our thoughts and hearts are with his wife Pam, and to the millions of fans who worshipped at his altar, he'll never be equalled."
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.
The Stranglers, formed in 1974 in Guildford, recently postponed their farewell tour from this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Greenfield played on well-loved tracks including Golden Brown,
Peaches and No More Heroes.
Critics compared his sound to that of Ray Manzarek from the Doors, who also used "rapid arpeggios" to create dynamism in his music.
