Steve Priest death: The Sweet founder and bassist dies at 72

Tributes have flooded in for the musician who ‘embodied the essence of Glam’

Steve Priest, the bassist and singer who formed part of the glam rock band The Sweet, has died aged 72.

The band’s Twitter account announced the news on 4 June, and provided a statement from Priest’s family.

The statement reads: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce at 8:25am PT today, Steve Priest, founding member of The Sweet, passed away. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, three daughters, Lisa, Danielle & Maggie and 3 grandchildren, Jordan, Jade & Hazel.”

Priest formed The Sweet in London in 1968, alongside lead vocalist Brian Connolly and drummer Mick Tucker. In their best-known line-up, they would later be joined by guitarist Andy Scott.

The group enjoyed a run of hits in the UK and abroad during the 1970s, including “Ballroom Blitz”, “Little Willie” and “Fox on the Run”.

After Connolly left the band in 1978, The Sweet continued with Priest as frontman, before disbanding altogether in 1981.

Tributes to the artist have poured in, with many voicing their admiration on social media.

Music critic Simon Price wrote: “Very sad to hear that Steve Priest of (The) Sweet has passed away. Genuinely one of my all-time pop heroes. Embodied the essence of Glam: effeminate, but menacing. The original Stormtrooper In Drag.”

Radio host Eddie Trunk said: ”RIP Steve Priest of Sweet. Steve had been a guest on my show in the past and I saw him play not long ago at a show I hosted in Houston.

“Sweet so influential and so many great songs covered by many hard rock bands. More sad news in this s***ty year.”

The Damned guitarist Captain Sensible wrote: “TOTPs, when Sweet were on.. you sat there in awe thinking – sod the school careers adviser that’s the job for me – and they wound your parents up something rotten too, which was a bonus. Steve Priest RIP.”