Stevie Wright (Easybeats) died

Stevie Wright, who fronted the band the Easybeats in the 1960s and is widely regarded as Australia’s first international pop star, has died at the age of 68. The Aria Hall of Famer reportedly became ill on Boxing Day and was taken to Moruya hospital on the NSW south coast, where he died on Sunday night.

Rock historian Glenn A Baker confirmed to radio station 6PR he had been informed of the rock legend’s death. The Easybeats, with renowned songwriting duo Harry Vanda and George Young in their lineup, were one of the first Australian pop bands to make an international breakthrough in the 1960s. Their classic 1966 song Friday On My Mind, cowritten by Vanda and Young, was a No 1 hit in Australia, reached No 6 in the UK and made the top 20 in the US.

Source: The Guardian