In pictures: The life of Steve Strange
- Published
New Romantic pioneer Steve Strange has died of a heart attack in Egypt at the age of 55.
The Welsh pop singer found fame in the 1980s as frontman for Visage whose best known hit was Fade To Grey.
Strange - pictured here with his sister Tanya - was born Steven John Harrington in Newbridge, Caerphilly.
He got involved in music after seeing the Sex Pistols in concert at the Castle Cinema in Caerphilly in 1976.
At the age of 15 he went to London to work for Pistols' manager Malcolm McClaren before setting up the nightclub Blitz, which employed a yet undiscovered Boy George in the cloakroom.
The likes of Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Boy George's Culture Club all started out at the central London club, which Strange ran with his Visage band mate Rusty Egan before they themselves had musical success
The club also counted David Bowie among its fans, who according to Strange went there "because he had heard how bizarre it was".
Strange, Rusty Egan (pictured right with Strange) and Midge Ure formed Visage in 1979. Their breakthrough record, Fade To Grey, peaked at number eight.
Strange said of the New Romantic style he helped create: "It was about showing your creative side."
Strange became addicted to heroin after first trying the drug while modelling at a Jean Paul Gaultier show in Paris in 1985 - he later said it was his "worst mistake"
In more recent times, Strange finished recording a classical interpretation of Fade To Grey at the end of last year. He also spent time with his family in south Wales, particularly in the seaside town of Porthcawl.
Following his death, tributes have poured in from the music world. Boy George, pictured with Strange in 2001, tweeted he was "heartbroken".
- Published13 February 2015
- Published13 February 2015
- Published13 February 2015
- Published3 December 2014
- Published3 April 2013
