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Brian Howe dead: Bad Company frontman dies of cardiac arrest aged 66

Getty Images
Getty Images

Bad Company frontman Brian Howe has died at the age of 66, a family member has confirmed.

The singer died from cardiac arrest, a relative told US gossip publication TMZ.

Born in Portsmouth in 1953, Howe started his music career in heavy metal band White Spirit before teaming up with American singer and guitarist Ted Nugent.

He eventually became Nugent's lead singer on his album Penetrator, but later left in an attempt to pursue a solo career.

Following an introduction by Foreigner's Mick Jones, Howe joined Bad Company as the band's vocalist in 1983.

He replaced Paul Rodgers and appearing in the 'super group' alongside Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell.

He co-wrote the majority of the group's biggest album Holy Water with producer Terry Thomas, with the record eventually going platinum and hitting number 35 on the Billboard chart.

He left the group in 1994, and claimed that he had become "tired of doing all the work."

"Leaving Bad Company was not a difficult decision," he said in an interview at the time.

"It had got to the point where nobody was contributing anything to songwriting and quite frankly, the band was getting very very sloppy live.

"I quite simply, along with Terry Thomas, got tired of doing all the work and then getting nothing but resentment for it from Mick and Simon."

Howe went on to release three solo albums. His last solo release, a single titled Hot Tin Roof, came out in 2017.

He previously had a heart attack in 2017.