The local music scene is in mourning today with news that legendary Australian rock band Sherbet’s original guitarist and co-founder Clive Shakespeare has passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer.
The tragic news was confirmed after earlier reports by friends of the family who had been visiting Shakespeare in hospital where he died last night. Clive Shakespeare was aged 62.
His band Sherbet was one of the most successful acts in Australia in the 1970s, with a run of 20 consecutive hits to its credit, and 17 albums that combined gave the band ten platinum and 40 gold awards. The group were also the first Australian act to sell a million dollars worth of records domestically.
Shakespeare left the band in 1975 citing ‘personal reasons’ and was replaced by Harvey James who died last year after his own battle with cancer. In 1990 the band were inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame, a recognition of their contribution to Australian music and their two #1 hits including Summer Love which was co-written by Shakespeare.
Tone Deaf would like to extend our deepest sympathy to family, friends and fans.
