Chris Bailey, popularly known as the lead singer of the legendary Australian band The Saints, passed away at the age of 65.
The band took to their social media accounts to confirm the tragic news, writing, "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."
They added that the singer lived a "life of poetry and music."
As of this writing, Bailey's cause of death remains a mystery.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) also confirmed his death, saying their thoughts are with the musician's family, friends, and fans.
Born in Nanyuki, Kenya, to Irish parents, the musician later moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he spent his early days.
A few years later, his family moved to Brisbane, Queensland, where he attended the Inala State High School, Oxley State High School, and Corinda State Highschool.
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The Saints as a Punk Rock Band Before the Genre Existed
The Saints is popularly known for their hit songs "Just Like Fire Would," "Music Goes Round My Heart," "Erotic Neurotic," "Every Day's a Holiday, Every Night's a Party," and many more.
Formed in 1973, the Brisbane-based band became one of the first punk rockers in Australia. They also made history for being the first punk group outside the United States to release a record with their debut single "I'm Stranded."
The band has been around for five decades, making them one of the most iconic bands in Australia. They were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001.
In a previous interview, guitarist Ed Kuepper spoke about how the group's humble beginnings in Brisbane and how they started making punk songs before the genre even existed.
The musician said they never called themselves a "punk band" as it didn't exist as a thing when they were starting out.
Three years into their careers, they finally earned the punk label after the Sex Pistols became widely popular in England and the Ramones' music skyrocketed.
"The funny thing was, once punk exploded in the UK it was on all the front pages and suddenly it became controversial but we were running free and easy, doing what we wanted," he told the outlet.
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