Ex-Bronski Beat member and keyboardist Larry Steinbachek has died 56. Steinbachek’s sister Louise Jones told BBC News that Larry was fighting with cancer and died last month.
The synthpop group Bronski Beat was formed by Jimmy Somerville, Larry Steinbachek and Steve Bronski in 1983. The electronic trio raised awareness about gay rights through their songs and became popular soon. Their debut song Smalltown Boy, which peaked at #3 in the UK Singles Chart, was about the pain and distress of a gay teenager who was forced to leave his parent and the city. Their follow-up single “Why? ” was also a hit. This song focused on anti-gay prejudice in the world
Their debut album was “The Age of Consent” which featured the ages of consent for gay men in various countries. This album was released in 1984 and reached No 4 spot in the UK Albums Chart.
Somerville left the group in 1985 and joined The Communards, and was replaced by John Foster and later Jonathan Hellyer. In 1985, Bronski Beat collaborated with Marc Almond to release the hit cover of Donna Summer’s I Feel Love.
In 1994, Steinbachek moved to Amsterdam, and continued his work on music.
Singer Marc Almond has paid his tribute to Larry Steinbachek. Almond and Bronski Beat had collaborated in 1985 to release a hit cover of Donna Summer’s I Feel Love.
Almond said he was “very sad to hear of the young death of Larry Steinbachek.”
“(I) enjoyed working with Bronski back in the 80s and having a big hit with them,” he said in his post on Twitter.
Somerville has also paid tribute Steinbachek. On his official Facebook page, he posted a link to their 1984 track Screaming, taken from The Age Of Consent.
“In memory of Larry Steinbacheck (sic) whose death was announced yesterday,” he wrote alongside the link.
“We were young, brave and determined. Too OUT to stay in! Thank you for that moment Larry.”
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