Visage lead singer Steve Strange dies aged 55

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The former lead singer of 1980s pop band ‘Visage’, Steve Strange has died.

Strange, considered a New Romantic icon died in hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt after suffering a heart attack. He had suffered ill health for some time.

The Welsh frontman rose to fame in the mid 1980s with Visage. His former bandmates Midge Ure and Rusty Egan said they were “devastated” by his “untimely passing”, saying: “Steve was a major face of the 80s.”

Various 1980s stars paid tribute to Strange, including Boy George who said he was “heartbroken” by the news.

Strange’s agent, Pete Bassett, said Steve was”a hard-working, very amusing and lovable individual who always was at the forefront of fashion trends”.

“Up until last year he was putting together a book of fashion styles based on the New Romantic movement and it comes as a great shock.

“We understood that he had certain health problems but nothing we knew was life threatening.

“His friends and family are totally shocked, we had no idea anything like this was likely to happen.”

Visage had five Top 40 hits after their breakthrough single ‘Fade To Grey’, peaked at number 8 in 1979.