Edinburgh-born Bay City Roller's singer Les McKeown’s cause of death has been confirmed by a coroner.
His wife Peko Keiko and son Jubei were informed that he passed away from a combination of natural causes, including heart disease which was exacerbated by his “excessive use of alcohol and drugs.”
Coroner Madam Hassell concluded that Mr. McKeown died from “a combination of a natural cause, long-term blood pressure and the long-term effects of alcohol and drugs.”
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She told the coroner’s court: "It was partly natural, it was long-term high blood pressure, and it was partly a consequence of the long-term use of excessive use of alcohol and drugs.
"In terms of a determination, the only proper thing for me to do is explain that. It means it's not quite as neat as saying this was natural causes or accident or drug or alcohol-related.
"It was drug and alcohol-related in the sense it was the long-term use of drug and alcohol abuse. It was not an abuse of drug and alcohol use that day.
"The toxicological analysis was negative - no alcohol, no drugs. This wasn't an overdose. It wasn't an alcohol binge.
"I make the determination Leslie McKeown died from a combination of a natural cause, being long-term blood pressure and the long-term effects of alcohol and drugs."
"I make the determination Leslie McKeown died from a combination of a natural cause, being long-term blood pressure and the long-term effects of alcohol and drugs."
The Daily Record reports how his family paid tribute to the Bye Bye Baby frontman after he passed away on April 20 this year, aged 65.
In a joint post, his son Jubei and widow Peko wrote a touching tribute to him, adding: “My Dad always wore his heart on his sleeve so it wasn’t surprising to hear the coroner say that he had a ‘heavy heart.”
The family also touched on Mckeown’s struggle with alcohol and said they were “confused and saddened" when people encouraged him to drink.
They added: "Ultimately, he made his own choices but people made it easier for him to make the wrong choices by putting alcohol in his hands."
The hearing also heard how Keiko and Jubei had tried to resuscitate McKeown after he was found collapsed due to a cardiac arrest at their home in London.
The singer was trying to turn his life around and was understood to have given up drinking in 2020 in favour of walking a mile twice a day with his wife.
He had tried to stay away from temptation by turning down gatherings with friends where he might crave a drink in the months before his death, the hearing was told.
But sadly the hit-maker relapsed at his property in Lower Clapton, East London and suffered the fatal cardiac arrest the next day, the inquest heard.
In honour of his life, the family are encouraging fans to donate to the charity Music Support UK . The organisation help people in the music industry who battle with anxiety, depression, addiction and alcoholism.
A cover of Danny Boy by Les McKeown and Vanessa Anne Redd, which was played at his funeral, has also been released on music streaming sites, with all proceeds going towards Music Support UK.
