The renowned Australian guitarist Bob “Bongo” Starkie has died at the age of 73, his band Skyhooks has announced.
Starkie died peacefully early on Saturday after a battle with leukaemia, the band’s archivist, Peter Green, said in a post on the Skyhooks Facebook page.
“The members of Skyhooks are exceptionally saddened by the loss of our band mate, and send their condolences to Bob’s family,” the post said.
“For the past year he has fought the brave fight against Leukemia hoping to get back on the road to perform more shows. Music was in his blood till the very end.
“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.”
Born in 1952, Starkie joined Skyhooks not long after it was formed in Melbourne in 1973, replacing his brother Peter – who was one of the band’s founding members – on guitar.
Skyhooks went on to become one of Australia’s most culturally significant rock bands.
Known for their daring costumes and sound, their popularity was boosted by their performances on ABC’s Countdown, in the early days of the classic music TV show.
After their zenith in the 70s, and a couple of break-ups and reformations in the 80s, Skyhooks were inducted into the Aria Hall of Fame in 1992.
In August, Starkie told music publication Noise 11 his ill health had forced him to cancel a string of live shows he had planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Skyhooks’ second album, Ego Is Not A Dirty Word.
Starkie had hoped the anniversary shows would be rescheduled in the new year.
His daughter, Indiana, quoted on the Skyhooks Facebook page on Saturday, said: “Our Dearest Grand-Daddy-Bop has peacefully departed listening to Chuck Berry. Snuggling with his fur baby Bonnie, surrounded by friends and family.
“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 the love till the very end.”
Earlier this year, Indiana announced that Starkie had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia when she started an online fundraiser to help with his medical costs.
“From the moment he wakes up, trying to get us wild girls to sleep as children, on trains, planes and airplanes, greeting new friends, serenading old pals, even during his hardest days having chemo in Geelong hospital, his guitar was by his side,” she wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“We may not have many more years but as a family we hope to fill those days with love and music.”
