Chris Bailey, the lead singer of legendary Australian band the Saints, has died.
The band announced his death on Facebook on Monday.
“It is with great pain in our hearts that we have to inform you about the passing of Chris Bailey, singer and songwriter of The Saints, on April the 9th 2022,” the statement said.
“Chris lived a life of poetry and music and stranded on a Saturday night.”
Bailey was born in Nanyuki, Kenya, to Irish parents in 1957 and lived the first seven years of his life in Belfast before his family emigrated to Australia.
They lived in Inala in Brisbane and he met bandmates Ed Kuepper and Ivor Hay at Corinda state high school. They originally named their band Kid Galahad and the Eternals, changing the name to the Saints in 1974.
On Monday Kuepper, who left the band in 1978 after musical disagreements with Bailey, expressed his sadness at Bailey’s death, saying the pair had “an extremely strong artistic partnership” and he “couldn’t have hoped for a better singer”.
very sad to confirm the news about Chris Bailey dying on the weekend. Chris and I met when we were about 14 during detention at Oxley High School and became close friends which later developed into what I always thought was an extremely strong artistic partnership, 1/2 pic.twitter.com/hQVKKHYgzT
— Ed Kuepper (@EdKuepper) April 10, 2022
Chris Bailey One of the best singers Thé Saints one of the best bands. Vale and thank you Chris. pic.twitter.com/dLxvROvrvc
— Warren Ellis (@warrenellis13) April 10, 2022
The group had their first hit with (I’m) Stranded in 1976 and released their first LP with the same name in 1977. They went on to release 13 more records. After forming their own label, Fatal Records in 1976, they were then signed by record label EMI for a three-album contract.
Bailey was the only member to be with the band its entire run.
R.I.P. Chris Bailey who sang perhaps the greatest punk single of alltime https://t.co/UXNZCxbojk
— Psychotronic Cinema (@Psychotronicci1) April 10, 2022
The Saints were the core of the Australian punk scene in the 1970s – though police attended the band’s Brisbane shows and arrested audience members and musicians, leading to their bookings evaporating.
(I’m) Stranded is regarded as one of the most influential punk songs of all time. In a promotional video for the single’s UK rerelease, the INXS frontman, Michael Hutchence, credited the band for creating the sound that led to the rapid rise of the Sex Pistols.
Just three days ago, Chris's former bandmate Ed Kuepper posted this new HQ video of The Saints' Paddington Town Hall show in April 1977. Yeah, punk rock in 1977. But they'd been playing for four years by then. They invented it themselves. https://t.co/uES0mbU7gN
— Russell Brown (@publicaddress) April 10, 2022
The State Library of Queensland acquired a split 7” vinyl of the single into its treasured John Oxley collection in 2016, commemorating the 40th anniversary of its release.
“The 7” vinyl single featured represents a piece of music history, influencing generations of bands around the world,” the library said.
“Released in September 1976, months ahead of the Sex Pistols’ and The Clash’s debuts, the unknown band The Saints’ single (I’m) Stranded / No Time propelled the Brisbane boyhood friends to the forefront of a new underground punk music movement.”
Bailey was remembered on Monday as “a co-creator of punk music”.
Another legend down. This one a co-creator of punk music. RIP Chris Bailey. pic.twitter.com/pjID8YExmg
— Lindsay McDowens (@doctormcdougall) April 10, 2022
Very sad news today that Chris Bailey from The Saints has passed away!
— FUTURAMA FESTIVAL (@futuramafest) April 10, 2022
Seminal Australian band that were one of originators of the sound we know as punk rock! Hugely influential and respected but missed out on the acclaim because sadly less press worthy
Last toured UK in 2015 pic.twitter.com/Qgvw6Tp7nc
Chris Bailey of The Saints has died.
— Zan Rowe (@zanrowe) April 10, 2022
A giant in punk music’s history, and present. What a loss. RIP Chris. pic.twitter.com/kwPpZWzfUb
Thank you and vale Chris Bailey. Facing a deluge of political ads, "Know Your Product" seems apt todayhttps://t.co/q5ckUqjtce pic.twitter.com/om9JbjAUSF
— David Pope (@davpope) April 10, 2022
Duff McKagan of Guns N Roses tweeted lyrics from The Saints song Know Your Product, on Monday.
“Rest In Peace Chris Bailey. 21 years is a long, long time-to be in this prison when there ain’t no crime. Saints forever!,” McKagan wrote.
Rest In Peace Chris Bailey. 21 years is a long, long time-to be in this prison when there ain't no crime. Saints forever! https://t.co/rWuvv8r49G
— Duff McKagan (@DuffMcKagan) April 10, 2022
