Steve Bronski | |
---|---|
Birth name | Steven William Forrest |
Born | [1] | 7 February 1960
Died | 7 December 2021 Soho, London, England | (aged 61)
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Keyboards, synthesizers, programming, piano, percussion, guitar, accordion, vocals |
Formerly of | Bronski Beat |
Steven William Forrest (7 February 1960 – 7 December 2021) was a Scottish singer-songwriter, best known for his time as a member of synth-pop band Bronski Beat, with Jimmy Somerville and Larry Steinbachek. [2] [3]
He was a co-founder and keyboard player of the group Bronski Beat, known for the singles " Smalltown Boy" and " Why?". [4] He was also an LGBTQ activist and was openly gay from an early age. [5]
Raised in Castlemilk, Glasgow, Bronski worked in his youth as a labourer. He lived in a flat in Brixton, London, during the early formative period of Bronski Beat with his fellow musicians. Later on he squatted with partner and bandmate Larry Steinbachek in Camberwell, London. [6] Following the break up of the band he lived in Thailand for many years, as well as Paris, France, before returning to the United Kingdom. [7]
Bronski had a stroke in 2018 which limited his mobility. He died at the age of 61, from smoke inhalation in a fire at his home in Soho, London, on 7 December 2021. [8] [9]