Larry Steinbachek, keyboard player for queer ’80s band Bronski Beat has passed away.
Steinbachek’s sister Louise Jones, told the BBC that he passed away in December following a short battle with cancer. He was 56 years old.
Alongside Steve Bronski and Jimmy Somerville, Steinbachek formed the electro band Bronski Beat in 1983 and the trio quickly found chart success. London Records signed the band when they had only played a total of nine live shows.
Their music, which was filled with lyrics about gay rights and battling homophobia, was ground breaking at the time of its release.
The group scored a succession of hits with Smalltown Boy, Why and their cover of It ‘Aint Necessarily So. They also teamed up with Soft Cell singer Marc Almond to cover the Donna Summer hit I Feel Love.
Their debut album Age of Consent highlighted on its cover the different ages gay men were allowed to have sex in different countries.
The band famously played a benefit gig to aid the Lesbians and Gays support the Miners campaign, which is dramatised in the feature film Pride.
In 1985 lead singer Jimmy Somervile quit the band and formed The Communards with Richard Coles, who had been playing saxophone with the band.
Coles, who now a Anglican vicar, described Steinbachek has being amazingly braze and dazzlingly talented.
Bronski Beat continued on with a new singer Jon Foster who performed under the name Jon Jon.
Bronski Beats second album Truth Dare, Double Dare featured the energetic song Hit That Perfect Beat, which was followed up by the equally boisterous C’mon C’mon.
The band continued recording into the ’90s and featured a variety of singers. They also teamed up with Eartha Kitt to record the song Cha Cha Heels.
Steinbachek later moved to Amsterdam and worked a s a musical director on theatrical projects.
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