Barrie Masters dead: Eddie and the Hot Rods star dies aged 63 as band speak out on 'shock'

Barrie Masters’ band Eddie and the Hot Rods shared the sad news of his death on their web tie today, writing: “It is with extreme sadness we announce the passing of the legendary Barrie Masters.

“As you can expect, this sudden news is a huge shock to the band and family,” they said.

“We welcome tributes posted to our Facebook and Twitter sites which will be passed on to Barrie’s family. More news will follow.”

The cause of death has not yet been confirme

Eddie and the Hot Rods were formed in Essex in 1975 during the pre-punk era of British pub rock.

Barrie was with the band from the beginning, providing vocals as they rose to fame in the mid-late 1970s before splitting in 1981.

Their popularity skyrocketed with the release of their 1977 album, Life On The Line, which featured their biggest hit, Do Anything You Wanna Do.

Barrie and drummer Steve Nicol reformed the band in 1984 with a new line-up, just one of many incarnations the group has seen.

The singer was the only constant members over the years.

Guitarist Dave Higgs, who first put the band together, died in 2013.

The group’s songs also include Quit This Town, Teenage Depression and Get Out Of Denver.

Last year, Eddie and the Hot Rods announced they would soon be ceasing to do headline tours and, earlier this year, they toured as the support act for the Stiff Little Fingers.

Eddie and the Hot Rods also helped launch the Sex Pistols when the iconic punk band performed their first show opened for the former in London in 1976.

The gig saw the Sex Pistols wreck lots of the Hot Rods’ equipment.

Last October, Barrie reflected on the gig in an interview with the Swindon Advertiser, saying: “When they smashed up our equipment, young Johnny Rotten had a severe telling that that’s not how to behave.”

Following the news of his death, fans flooded to Twitter to pay tribute to Barrie, with one writing: “Sad to hear of the death of Barrie Masters, singer of @EddieHotRods who made one of THE best songs of the punk/new wave period with Do Anything You Wanna Do.”

“Such sad news,” another said. “Sending my condolences to his family and the band.

“Saw them a few times and it was fantastic each time. Barrie was a great, nice man and a great performer.”

A third tweeted: “The man who inspired us to ‘do anything we wanted to do’. Such a shame living forever isn’t possible. #RIP #BarrieMasters your music lives on.”

Another fan called Barrie “such a lovely man”, adding: “We’ve seen The Rods so many times. Barrie Masters was a smashing chap.

“Thank you for the memories, Barrie.”

source: express.co.uk