LONDON (CelebrityAccess) – Barrie Masters, frontman of British pub rock band Eddie and the Hot Rods, has passed away at the age of 63. A statement posted to the group’s social media suggested that Masters’s passing was unexpected, describing the “sudden news” as a “huge shock to the band and family”.
Masters was a founding member of the band, which formed on Canvey Island in 1975 and was considered, along with acts like Dr. Feelgood, pioneers of the British pub-rock scene.
They grew a formidable reputation as a live band, even after a now famed incident at London’s Marquee Club saw first-time performers The Sex Pistols, trash all of the Hot Rods’ gear.
The band went on to release their biggest hit, “Do Anything You Wanna Do,” in 1977, before disbanding in 1981. They occasionally reformed with a rotating cast — Masters was the sole permanent member — most recently to record 35 Years of Teenage Depression (2011), a redux of their debut album for its 35th anniversary.
The group last performed together in April 2019 as part of the ‘Done Everything We Wanna Do’ night in London, which Masters reportedly heralded as the group’s live retirement.
