Stevie Wright, the frontman for the Australian ‘60s pop group The Easybeats, has died. He was 68.
Wright became ill on Saturday and was rushed to a hospital in New South Wales, reports The Guardian. He died on Sunday. Rock historian Glenn A. Baker confirmed Wright’s death during a radio interview.
The Easybeats were among the first Australian pop groups to score an international hit. “Friday On My Mind,” written by Harry Vanda and George Young, made it to No. 6 on the U.K. charts and the Top 20 in the U.S. The song was actually recorded in London and was later covered by David Bowie on his cover album Pin Ups.
The group broke up in 1969, but Wright still managed to earn a hit with the solo single “Evie.” After that though, he battled drug and alcohol addictions for over 20 years.
Wright was born in Leeds, England and moved to Australia when he was nine years old.
“The Easybeats were one of the most remarkable pop bands of their time, and I think probably recorded the definitive pop song of the era in ‘Friday On My Mind,’” Australian singer Normie Rowe told ABC News Radio. “When the drugs raised their ugly head, I think it was the beginning of the end for him. Not too many people come back from that. I really think that if you don't have a strong family foundation, probably showbusiness isn't the place for you.”
According to Australia’s ABC, Wright was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005. He gave one of his final performances at the 2009 Legends of Rock Festival in Byron Bay, New South Wales.