The lead vocalist of Northern Territory rock outfit Lonely Boys has passed away, according to a statement released by the band’s label, Skinnyfish Music.
The musician, who has not been named out of cultural respect for the deceased, was confirmed to have passed away on Saturday night following what has been described as a “pedestrian accident” on the Roper Highway in his hometown of Ngukurr in the Northern Territory. Specific details of the event which resulted in his death have not been revealed.
“We lost a big singer, writer and performer on the weekend,” explained Michael Hohnen in a statement on behalf of Skinnyfish Music. “He was extremely talented, and artistic. He was everything a frontman can be – exhilarating, entertaining, commanding, chaotic, wild and confident.
“We are distressed and upset and are thinking of all the families in the South East Arnhem region as they process this loss.”
Lonely Boys first emerged in 2006 with a win at the Barunga Festival battle of the bands, before appearing on the Darwin leg of the Groovin’ the Moo festival that same year. As time went on, the group fast became one of the most popular outfits across the remote Northern Territory communities.
In 2016, the group won the NT Rock Song of the Year for ‘Murray Island’ from their acclaimed EP The Hunter, before being selected as the opening act for Queens Of The Stone Age’s 2017 headline show in Darwin.
The singer’s passing follows on from another tragedy that befell the Lonely Boys in recent years, with their guitarist passing away in 2018 following a single vehicle rollover near Ngukurr.
The singer of Lonely Boys is survived by his wife, children, bandmates, and extended community.
