Phil May — the frontman of famed U.K. rock group the Pretty Things — has died. May passed away this morning in hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk, following complications after having hip surgery due to a cycling accident. His passing was not related to COVID-19. May was 75.
A statement from the group reads as follows:
Phil May passed away at 7.05 a.m. on Friday 15 May at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. He was 75. He had been locked down in Norfolk with his family and, during the week Phil had suffered a fall from his bike and had undergone emergency hip surgery, after which complications set in.
Phil had been in poor health for some time when the Pretty Things played their last live concert, 'The Final Bow,' on 13 December 2018 at the Indigo, O2 where they were joined onstage by old friends David Gilmour and Van Morrison.
May formed the Pretty Things in 1963 alongside guitarist Dick Taylor, who had recently left his gig with the Rolling Stones. Before long, the Pretty Things brought on John Stax, Brian Pendleton and Viv Andrews, with May then serving as the group's frontman throughout their many year.
Emerging out of the British R&B boom, the Pretty Things embraced a ragged blues-rock sound, emerging as one of the first proto garage punk groups. But the Pretty Things may be best remembered for their classic 1968 album S.F. Sorrow — a record widely regarded as the first-ever rock opera concept album.
In their day, the Pretty Things found vocal fans in the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith and the Ramones, and as mentioned by the band, they played their final concert in 2018 with special appearances by David Gilmour and Van Morrison. With May at the lead, the Pretty Things never officially broke up during their many decades, with the project continuing for more than 50 years.
A statement from the group reads as follows:
Phil May passed away at 7.05 a.m. on Friday 15 May at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. He was 75. He had been locked down in Norfolk with his family and, during the week Phil had suffered a fall from his bike and had undergone emergency hip surgery, after which complications set in.
Phil had been in poor health for some time when the Pretty Things played their last live concert, 'The Final Bow,' on 13 December 2018 at the Indigo, O2 where they were joined onstage by old friends David Gilmour and Van Morrison.
May formed the Pretty Things in 1963 alongside guitarist Dick Taylor, who had recently left his gig with the Rolling Stones. Before long, the Pretty Things brought on John Stax, Brian Pendleton and Viv Andrews, with May then serving as the group's frontman throughout their many year.
Emerging out of the British R&B boom, the Pretty Things embraced a ragged blues-rock sound, emerging as one of the first proto garage punk groups. But the Pretty Things may be best remembered for their classic 1968 album S.F. Sorrow — a record widely regarded as the first-ever rock opera concept album.
In their day, the Pretty Things found vocal fans in the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith and the Ramones, and as mentioned by the band, they played their final concert in 2018 with special appearances by David Gilmour and Van Morrison. With May at the lead, the Pretty Things never officially broke up during their many decades, with the project continuing for more than 50 years.