Steve Priest, bass-player with the Sweet and an icon of 70s glam rock has sadly passed away following an illness that hospitalised him in recent months.
In an emotional post on his band’s Facebook page, former band-mate Andy Scott paid tribute to the best bassist he ever worked with:
“Then there was one!
I am in pieces right now. Steve Priest has passed away. His wife Maureen and I have kept in contact and though his health was failing I never envisaged this moment. Never. My thoughts are with his family x.
He was the best bass player I ever played with. The noise we made as a band was so powerful. From that moment in the summer of 1970 when set off on our Musical Odyssey the world opened up and the rollercoaster ride started! He eventually followed his heart and moved to the USA. First New York then LA.
Rest in Peace brother. All my love.
Andy”
Steve Priest’s latter-day colleagues in Steve’s own US-based version of the Sweet broke the news on their Facebook page on behalf of Steve’s family:
“Dear Friends and Fans,
We have very sad news – Please see the below statement from Steve Priest’s family.”
Love,
Richie, Stevie, Mitch & Paulie…
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce at 8:25am PT today, Steve Priest, founding member of The Sweet, passed away. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, three daughters, Lisa, Danielle & Maggie and 3 grandchildren, Jordan, Jade & Hazel.”
Steve Priest’s death follows the deaths of vocalist Brian Connolly in 1997 and drummer Mick Tucker in 2002, leaving Andy Scott the sole surviving member of the band’s classic 70s lineup. When I interviewed Andy at the end of last year he talked about attempts to reunite the two for the band’s fiftieth anniversary but it was not to be. However, he did stress that the two kept in touch on a personal level and asked after one another’s health.
A phenomenal bass-player whose harmony vocals were an essential part of the band’s classic sound Steve Priest we salute you – a true glam rock icon.
Related posts:
‘The Sweet in the 1970s’ by Darren Johnson – published 30th July 2021
Review: Sweet 50th anniversary concert – Berlin
The Sweet versus Bowie: the riff in Blockbuster and Jean Genie – origins and influences
Before glam: the debut 60s singles of Bowie, Bolan, Slade, Mud and Sweet
Darren's music blog 
The Sweet was a strange band, glamrock to the max and at the same time rather heavy metal, certainly in that time. Good musicians they were!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed – that combination of a great singles band and a great albums band, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The new issue of Vive Le Rock magazine due out next week is a glam special and includes my interview with Steve Priest – his last – plus Andy Scott and Jim Lea also John Rossall and Bob Bradbury
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers Mark I’ll be buying it!
LikeLike