The Stranglers’ keyboardist Dave Greenfield dies after catching Covid-19

The band, who were founded in 1974, were scheduled to play a farewell tour this summer but postponed it due to the pandemic

FILE - In this July 6, 1980 file photo, from left, Dave Greenfield, Hugh Cornwell, Jean-Jacques Burnel and Jet Black of the group The Stranglers pose for a photo. Dave Greenfield, the keyboard player with British punk band The Stranglers and who penned the music to their biggest hit Golden Brown, has died after testing positive for coronavirus. He was 71. The band's official website announced that Greenfield died on Sunday, May 3, 2020 after contracting the virus following a stay in hospital for heart problems. (PA via AP, File)
Powered by automated translation

Dave Greenfield, the keyboardist of English rock band The Stranglers, has died at the age of 71 after contracting Covid-19.

Greenfield died on Sunday, May 3, after testing positive for the coronavirus during a prolonged stay in hospital, where he was being treated for heart problems.

The keyboardist is credited with writing the band's hit song Golden Brown. He was known for his unique playing style and rapid arpeggios, often using instruments such as the Hammond electric organ and the harpsichord.

Founded in 1974, The Stranglers were scheduled to play a farewell tour this summer, but postponed it due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bass player Jean-Jacques “JJ” Burnel, paid tribute to his band mate in a statement, calling Greenfield “a musical genius”.

He said Greenfield was “one of the victims of the great pandemic of 2020”, and that “all of us in the worldwide Stranglers family [are] grieving”.

The band’s drummer, Jet Black, said Greenfield 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.”

The Stranglers’ frontman Baz Warne said the word “genius” was bandied around far too easily in this day and age, but “Greenfield certainly was one”.

STOKE POGES, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 10:  Jean-Jacques Burnel, Jet Black, Baz Warne and Dave Greenfield of The Stranglers perform on stage on the first day of Guilfest '09 at Stoke Park on July 10, 2009 in Stoke Poges, England. (Photo by Ollie Millington/Redferns/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***  al17ma-music-stranglers.jpg
Jean-Jacques Burnel, Jet Black, Baz Warne and Dave Greenfield of The Stranglers perform in July 2009 in Stoke Poges, near London. Getty

“We lost a true innovator, musical legend, and one of my dearest friends today,” he said in tribute. “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.”