Skyhooks guitarist Bob Starkie dead at 73: ‘Music was in his blood till the very end’

Skyhooks guitarist Bob ‘Bongo’ Starkie had leukaemia. He was 73.

Skyhooks guitarist Bob Starkie has died after a battle with cancer. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Skyhooks guitarist Bob “Bongo” Starkie has died after a battle with leukaemia. He was 73.

The band announced the legendary guitarist’s death on Saturday in a post on Facebook, saying “music was in his blood till the very end”. His daughter Indiana said he died peacefully surrounded by family while listening to Chuck Berry.

“Our dearest Grand-Daddy-Bop has peacefully departed listening to Chuck Berry snuggling with his fur baby Bonnie, surrounded by friends and family,” she said in a statement. “Daughters Indiana and Arabella, grandchildren Phoenix and Lucia, partner Chrissy, great mate Ian and son-in-laws Simon and Chris will miss him dearly.

“Thank you for all your support, he has felt till the very end.”

Announcing Starkie’s death, the band said it was “with sadness in our hearts that we have to send out this news”.

Rock band Skyhooks performing onstage in 1976 at Moorabbin to an audience of 8000 screaming fans.

Bob Starkie pictured with his family, who announced on Saturday his passing at the age of 73. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“For the past year, (Bob) has fought the brave fight against hoping to get back on the road to perform more shows,” the band wrote. “Bob was the guitarist in the iconic Skyhooks, the youngest in the band and he embraced the theatrics from striking facial make up to unique stage costumes.

“The music always came first and touring and playing onstage was his absolute joy.”

The band added it was “exceptionally saddened by the loss of our bandmate”, and offered their condolences to his family.

Known for their hit albums Living In the 70s and Ego Is Not A Dirty Word, Skyhooks was an iconic Australian rock band.

The band had been due to perform 50th anniversary shows for its seminal debut album Living in the 70s — which sold more than 300,000 copies — until Starkie cancelled the shows due to poor health.

Skyhooks was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1992.

Starkie joined the band in 1973. Lead singer Graeme Strachan died in 2001 in a helicopter accident, aged just 49, and founding member Peter Starkie died after falling from a ladder in 2020. He was 72.