The Saints frontman Chris Bailey dead at 65

Chris Bailey, lead singer of legendary Aussie punk-rock band The Saints, has died – and fans are remembering this “giant” in music history.

Chris Bailey, lead singer of Australian rock band The Saints, has died.

The band announced their 65-year-old frontman had passed away in a statement posted to social media today.

Stream more entertainment news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

The early years of The Saints – (L-R) Ed Kuepper, Chris Bailey, Ivor Hay and Kym Bradshaw in Brisbane 1976.

“It is with great pain in our hearts that we have to inform you about the passing of Chris Bailey, singer and songwriter of The Saints, on April the 9th, 2022,” the statement read.

The Saints reunited, L-R: Chris Bailey, Ivor Hay and Ed Kuepper with new bass player Casper Wijnberg.

“Chris lived a life of poetry and music and stranded on a Saturday night.”

No cause of death has yet been released.

The Saints originated in Brisbane in 1973, and soon became the first “punk” band outside of the US to release a record. From those beginnings the band have enjoyed a multi-decade career, releasing 14 studio albums, the most recent of which came out in 2012.

While never a chart-topping group - their commercial high point came in 1986, when album All Fools Day and single Just Like Fire Would both peaked at number 29 on the ARIA charts - The Saints were an influential and much-loved part of the Australian music landscape for decades. Their contribution to Aussie music was recognised in 2001 when they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Chris Bailey: “One of our greatest.”

Tributes are flowing today for the legendary Aussie music legend from famous fans here and around the world.

“RIP Chris Bailey. One of our greatest. Had the pleasure of staying at his amazing, rambling home at Queen St, Woollahra. He was incredibly generous, wickedly funny and just what a rock star should be. Legend,” actor Rhys Muldoon tweeted.

A more recent photo of Bailey with Saints bandmmate Ed Kuepper (right). Picture: Mark Cranitch.

Broadcaster Zan Rowe called Bailey “a giant in punk music’s history, and present. What a loss.” Musician and broadcaster Lindsay McDougall dubbed him a “legend” and the “a co-creator of punk music.”

“Chris Bailey gave us some of the best rock and roll songs and sang them with an immediate and unforgettable voice,” wrote prolific rock guitarist Matt Sweeney.

Guns N’ Roses member Duff McKagan also paid tribute, quoting lyrics from The Saints’ sogn Know Your Product.

“Rest in peace Chris Bailey. Twenty-one years is a long, long time to be in this prison when there ain’t no crime. Saints forever,” he wrote.