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Steve Bronski

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Steve Bronski
Birth nameSteven William Forrest
Born(1960-02-07)7 February 1960[1]
Glasgow, Scotland
Died7 December 2021(2021-12-07) (aged 61)
Soho, London, England
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Keyboards, synthesizers, programming, piano, percussion, guitar, accordion, vocals
Formerly ofBronski Beat

Steven William Forrest (7 February 1960 – 7 December 2021) was a Scottish singer-songwriter, best known for his time as a member of synth-pop band Bronski Beat, with Jimmy Somerville and Larry Steinbachek.[2][3]

Career

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He was a co-founder and keyboard player of the group Bronski Beat, known for the singles "Smalltown Boy" and "Why?".[4] He was also an LGBTQ activist and was openly gay from an early age.[5]

Bronski, whose real name was Steven Forrest, was born and raised in Castlemilk, Glasgow,[6][7] where he worked in his youth as a labourer.[8] He lived in a flat in Brixton, London, during the early formative period of Bronski Beat with his fellow musicians. Later on he squatted with partner and bandmate Larry Steinbachek in Camberwell, London.[9] Following the break up of the band he lived in Thailand for many years, as well as Paris, France, before returning to the United Kingdom.[10]

Personal life and death

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Bronski had a stroke in 2018 which limited his mobility.[8] He died at the age of 61, from smoke inhalation in a fire at his home in Soho, London, on 7 December 2021, exactly 5 years to the day after Steinbachek.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ "Bronski Beat". Official Charts. 2 June 1984.
  2. ^ Snapes, Laura (9 December 2021). "Steve Bronski: co-founder of Bronski Beat dies aged 61". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Steve Bronski Dies: Cofounder Of Gay Pop Pioneers Bronski Beat Was 61". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Bronski Beat founder Steve Bronski dies at 61". BBC News. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Bronski Beat founder Steve Bronski Dead at 61". Advocate.com. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  6. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (25 December 2021). "Steve Bronski, of the Pioneering Gay Band Bronski Beat, Dies at 61". The New York Times. p. B-11. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Steve Bronski from The Gazetteer for Scotland". The Gazetteer for Scotland.
  8. ^ a b Curtin, April (14 December 2021). "Bronski Beat co-founder's carer claims musician died in Soho flat fire". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  9. ^ "The beginning of Bronski Beat". jimmysomerville.de.
  10. ^ "The Godfathers of Pop: Steve Bronski interview". Classicpopmag.com. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Steve Bronski: co-founder of Bronski Beat dies aged 61". The Guardian. 9 December 2021.
  12. ^ Weaver, Matthew (13 December 2021). "Steve Bronski carer says musician died in Soho flat fire". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2021.