The Lambrettas frontman dies

The Lambrettas frontman - Jez Bird - 50, passed away on Wednesday (August 27) following a battle against cancer.

The Lambrettas, who led the mod revival charge of 79’/80, had a certain reverence for '60s pop with a youthful, forward-looking attitude whilst embracing punk's energy and charisma. Their debut album Beat Boys in the Jet Age, still a Music News classic, was all but forgotten by the mainstay press although it produced some of the era's finest teen anthems.

Their biggest hit was in 1980, with a cover version of the 1950s Leiber and Stoller song, "Poison Ivy", which reached #7 in the UK Singles Chart. They also scored a #12 hit with the follow-up, "Da-a-a-nce".

Jez Bird was always a popular character and will be sadly missed.