Bronski Beat founder Steve Bronski dies at 61

Steve Bronski, the co-founder and keyboard player in the 1980s synth-pop trio Bronski Beat, has died at the age of 61.

Bronski, from Glasgow,UK was born Steve Forrest and formed the trailblazing group in 1983 with singer Jimmy Somerville and fellow keyboard player Larry Steinbachek after they shared a three-bedroom flat in London. 

All band members were openly gay, and their songs often reflected this, frequently containing political commentary on gay-related issues. Their debut album, "The Age of Consent" (1984) (which peaked at number 4 in the UK album charts), featured the consent age of men in countries worldwide on its inner sleeve as a protest. In the same year, Bronski Beat headlined the "Pits and Perverts" concert at the Electric Ballroom in London to raise funds for the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign. For this and so many more advocacy programmes, Spin magazine described them as "perhaps the first real gay group in the history of pop."

The group had various hit songs including, "Smalltown Boy" and "Hit That Perfect Beat". 

Bronski beat lead singer Jimmy Somerville tweeted, "Sad to hear Steve Bronski has died. He was a talented and a very melodic man. Working with him on songs and the one song that changed our lives and touched so many other lives was a fun and exciting time. Thanks for the melody Steve". 

Somerville left the band in the summer of 1985 due to strains within the group. He went on to have a successful career with the Communards, and as a solo artist, Bronski Beat continued with various frontmen. They released two more albums, "Truthdare Doubledare" (1986) and "Out & About" (1987), then had a hiatus until 1995's "Rainbow Nation" album.

Steve Bronski continued to produce and record, including collaborations with Jayne County, Darryl Pandy and members of Strawberry Switchblade. And spent much of the 2000s living in Thailand. 

In 2017, Bronski fronted the recording of a reworked version of "The Age of Consent" titled "The Age of Reason", with vocalist Stephen Granville, in solidarity with the trans community. Fellow member Larry Steinbachek died in December 2016, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Meaning Jimmy Somerville is the only original member still alive. 

Check out this insightful piece touching on Bronski Beat's influence.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000xr7r?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5B…