The Stranglers’ keyboardist Dave Greenfield dies after catching Covid-19

The band, who were founded in 1974, were scheduled to play a farewell tour this summer but postponed it due to the pandemic

Dave Greenfield, far left, the keyboard player with British punk band The Stranglers, has died after testing positive for the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus. AP

Dave Greenfield, the keyboardist of English rock band The Stranglers, has died at the age of 71 after contracting Covid-19.

Greenfield died on Sunday, May 3, after testing positive for the coronavirus during a prolonged stay in hospital, where he was being treated for heart problems.

The keyboardist is credited with writing the band's hit song Golden Brown. He was known for his unique playing style and rapid arpeggios, often using instruments such as the Hammond electric organ and the harpsichord.

Founded in 1974, The Stranglers were scheduled to play a farewell tour this summer, but postponed it due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bass player Jean-Jacques “JJ” Burnel, paid tribute to his band mate in a statement, calling Greenfield “a musical genius”.

He said Greenfield was “one of the victims of the great pandemic of 2020”, and that “all of us in the worldwide Stranglers family [are] grieving”.

The band’s drummer, Jet Black, said Greenfield 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.”

The Stranglers’ frontman Baz Warne said the word “genius” was bandied around far too easily in this day and age, but “Greenfield certainly was one”.

“We lost a true innovator, musical legend, and one of my dearest friends today,” he said in tribute. “We stood together on the same side of the stage for 20 years, laughed, joked and shared our lives in the way that only bandmates can. I’ll miss him forever.”