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Barrie Masters was a member of Eddie and the Hot Rods from their formation in 1975
Barrie Masters, the lead singer of the band Eddie and the Hot Rods, has died aged 63.
The band were best known for their top 10 hit in 1977, Do Anything You Wanna Do.
Formed in Canvey Island, Essex in 1975, they were part of the pub rock scene which included Dr Feelgood and Ian Dury’s band Kilburn and the High Roads.
On their website the band said: “This sudden news is a huge shock to the band and family”.
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On Twitter, Eddie and the Hot Rods paid tribute to their “legendary” singer
Masters was the original singer of the band, and was their only constant member.
The band kicked off their career with residencies in London clubs alongside The 101ers before being signed to Island Records in the mid-1970s.
Over the years they became known for their punk style and were often considered as one of the founding groups of the genre with their loud, frenetic live sets.
They also had top 40 hits with Teenage Depression and Quit This Town.
‘Fists flew’
In 1976 they made headlines when they played at London’s Marquee Club while supported by The Sex Pistols, who went on to smash the Hot Rods’ gear following a chaotic set.
The band’s guitarist Richard Holgarth recalled Masters confronting Sex Pistols singer John Lydon – or Johnny Rotten as he was then known – over the damaged equipment.
“Fists flew but didn’t necessarily make any contact,” he said.
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Holgarth described him as the “perfect frontman” and a “composite of a rock and roller”.
“Someone with a voice that could strip paint. Someone who had a capacity for having a great time that was unmatched and just looked the part completely,” he said.
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Eddie and Hot Rods had hits with Do Anything You Wanna Do, Teenage Depression and Quit This Town
BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Stephen Foster, who got to know Masters well, described him as “one of the best lead singers of his generation” for his “great voice, stage presence and lots of energy”.
He said: “His performance on the classic single Do Anything You Wanna Do leapt out of the grooves and helped make it one of the best pop singles of all time.”
British band Jesus Jones tweeted that Do Anything You Wanna Do was “one of the greatest records ever. Utterly perfect. Such a sad day.”
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Barrie Masters has been described as the “perfect frontman”
The Vapors tweeted: “A true rocker. You’ll be sadly missed mate. Sleep tight.”