Steve Bronski

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]

Steve Bronski
Birth nameSteven William Forrest
Born(1960-02-07)7 February 1960[1]
Died7 December 2021(2021-12-07) (aged 61)
Soho, London, England
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Keyboards, synthesizers, programming, piano, percussion, guitar, accordion, vocals

Career

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]

In 2016, Larry Steinbachek died after a short battle with cancer. Bronski had a stroke in 2018 which limited his mobility. He died from smoke inhalation in a fire at his home in Soho, London, on 7 December 2021, at the age of 61.[8][9]

References
  1. keyboardist Steve Bronski (born Steven William Forrest on February 7, 1960)
  2. Snapes, Laura (9 December 2021). "Steve Bronski: co-founder of Bronski Beat dies aged 61". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  3. "Steve Bronski Dies: Cofounder Of Gay Pop Pioneers Bronski Beat Was 61". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  4. "Bronski Beat founder Steve Bronski dies at 61". BBC News. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  5. "Bronski Beat founder Steve Bronski Dead at 61". Advocate.com. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  6. "The beginning of Bronski Beat". jimmysomerville.de.
  7. "The Godfathers of Pop: Steve Bronski interview". Classicpopmag.com. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  8. "Steve Bronski: co-founder of Bronski Beat dies aged 61". The Guardian. 9 December 2021.
  9. Weaver, Matthew (13 December 2021). "Steve Bronski carer says musician died in Soho flat fire". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
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