Dave Greenfield, Highly Influential Keyboard Player for The Stranglers, dead at 71

“He was the difference between The Stranglers and every other punk band.”

Dave Greenfield, the highly Influential Keyboard Player for The Stranglers has died at 71 after testing positive for Covid-19.

Greenfield passed on Sunday after having contracted the virus after a lengthy stay in the hospital undergoing treatment for heart problems.

He is survived by his wife Pam.

Greenfield is best known for writing The Stranglers’ biggest hit “Golden Brown”, a song which is featured on the band”s 1981 album La Folie, ‘Golden Brown” would become a radio airplay staple, controversially written about heroin, which went to number two on the UK singles chart in 1982.

Via Twitter, original Stranglers frontman/guitarist Hugh Cornwell eulogized his former bandmate, stating:

Watch the video for “Golden Brown” below:

The Stranglers bass player Jean-Jacques “JJ” Burnel paid tribute to Greenfield as a “musical genius”.

“On the evening of Sunday May 3rd my great friend and longstanding colleague of 45 years, the musical genius that was Dave Greenfield, passed away as one of the victims of the Great Pandemic of 2020. All of us in the worldwide Stranglers’ family grieve and send our sincerest condolences to Pam.” — JJ Burnel

“We have just lost a dear friend and music genius, and so has the whole world. Dave was a complete natural in music. Together, we toured the globe endlessly and it was clear he was adored by millions. A huge talent, a great loss, he is dearly missed.” — Jet Black

“We lost a true innovator, musical legend, and one of my dearest friends today. The word genius is bandied around far too easily in this day and age, but Dave Greenfield certainly was one. We stood together on the same side of the stage for 20 years, laughed, joked and shared our lives in the way that only band mates can. I’ll miss him forever. Our thoughts and hearts are with his wife Pam, and to the millions of fans who worshiped at his altar, he’ll never be equaled.” – Baz Warne

Included below is some more of the music Greenfield made and other tributes.