Acclaimed NT artist, who opened for Queens of the Stone Age, killed when struck by 4WD on Roper Hwy

THE frontman of an NT band, that performed with the Queens of the Stone Age, has been identified as the person who died in a highway accident involving a 4WD

The lead singer of the Lonely Boys, who performed with the Queens of the Stone Age in 2017 during their Darwin show, died when he was struck by a 4WD on the Roper Hwy

THE frontman of Ngukurr band Lonely Boys has been identified as the person who who died in a highway accident involving a 4WD.

The man, who cannot be named for cultural reasons, is the second Lonely Boys band member to have died in a vehicle-related accident in the last few years.

Skinnyfish Music released a statement advising of the lead singer’s death.

“We lost a big singer, writer and performer on the weekend,” said Michael Hohnen on behalf of Skinnyfish Music.

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“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.”

The singer is survived by his wife, children, bandmates and extended community.

The man, aged 36, was struck by a 4WD travelling west on the Roper Hwy.

Police said the driver stopped to help and transported the man and a relative to the Mataranka Clinic, where he died at 8.10pm.

Local police set up a crime scene on the Roper Hwy and Major Crash Investigation Unit detectives travelled to the location to inspect the seized car, the crime scene and to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The driver returned a negative result for alcohol and has undergone a blood test for drugs. He continues to assist police with inquiries.

Lonely Boys emerged in 2006 winning the Barunga Festival battle of the bands and made their city debut on the Groovin’ The Moo Darwin line up the same year.

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The band recorded their debut album in 2007 and toured across the Top End for the next decade, becoming one of the most popular bands across remote Northern Territory communities.

Emerging on the national stage for the first time in 2016 with their single ‘Murray Island’, the band turned heads across the globe with their unique mix of rock, punk and metal, being chosen by Queens of the Stone Age to play support at their Darwin show in 2017.

Their 2017 debut studio EP ‘The Hunter’ was produced by ARIA nominated Forrester Savell and James Mangohig with the track ‘Lonely Boys Anthem’ remixed in 2019 as part of the Skinnyfish Sound System project.

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