Tony Thorpe, glam-rock guitarist for the Rubettes, dead at 80

Tony Thorpe, the guitarist for the English glam-rock combo the Rubettes, has died. He was 80.

“It is with large sadness that we officially denote the passing of Anthony John Thorpe. He was a begetter to Clay, a hubby to Shirle, a person to many, and a mentor to countless musicians young and old,” work a connection posted to his Facebook page. “His precocious failing wellness did small to diminish his fierce intellect and crisp consciousness of humour. He volition permission an unfillable spread successful the lives of each who knew him, oregon his music.”

The Rubettes formed successful 1973 aft a session-musician squad chopped respective doo-wop inspired tracks including the azygous “Sugar Baby Love.” The opus deed fig 1 connected the UK charts successful 1974 erstwhile the band, known for its azygous of achromatic suits, performed connected Top of the Pops. The azygous besides charted successful the U.S. apical 40 and became their best-known song, on with European hits including “Tonight,” “Juke Box Jive,” “I Can Do It.”

The set sold millions of singles, chiefly successful Europe, implicit its career. Thorpe sang pb connected respective songs successful the band’s catalog, including the country-influenced azygous “Baby I Know.” He near the radical successful 1979, and the Rubettes continued to execute and grounds successful assorted incarnations.

The Rubettes classic-lineup singer, Alan Williams, posted connected the band’s authoritative Facebook page, saying Thorpe was “Mercifully present astatine peace.”

“Dear Tony, our paths having crossed but fleetingly during which clip was conceived wondrous euphony and often hilariously memorable moments. Your brilliance with the axe and the pen cannot beryllium denied and remains with us, ne'er forgotten. Rest present Cowboy.”