Written by: Alex Green

Larry Steinbachek, who played keyboards and percussion for Bronski Beat has died.

The 56-year-old musician death’s is being attributed to a brief bout with cancer.

His sister Louise told the press that Steinbachek died at home surrounded by family and friends.

He had reportedly been living in Amsterdam.

The UK synthpop outfit were wildly popular in the ’80s and not only were all three members of the band openly gay, their material unhesitatingly confronted the social and political issues that the gay community were constantly facing. A revolutionary band who were unafraid to take on intolerance, marginalization and homophobia while championing and fighting for gay rights, they are perhaps best known for their smash 1984 hit “Smalltown Boy.” The song told the story of a gay teen leaving his homophobic hometown behind to find acceptance elsewhere.

Steinbachek, Jimmy Somerville and Steve Bronski started the band in 1983 when the three men shared a house together in Brixton. According to Amoeba Music, Bronski and Steinbachek found the Glasgow-born Somerville by chance: “Bronski and Steinbachek were both involved with a government-funded program called “Framed Youth,” which was intended to teach video and editing skills to young gays and lesbians to help them document their lives and lifestyles. On one of these videos, they heard an original song called “Screaming” that consisted of just a drum machine and the falsetto vocals of a young vocalist named Jimmy Somerville…The pair contacted Somerville and asked if they could flesh out the track more with keyboard parts. Soon the trio started recording other tracks together, and Somerville moved into Lancaster House as a third roommate.”

Snatched up by London Records after only a handful of live shows, the band released the Age of Consent album in 1984. The album remains one of the most powerful and rousing documents of living amidst the ever-darkening shadow of the AIDS crisis.

Bronski Beat are also known for headlining the “Pits And Perverts” benefit concert in London. Taking place at the Electric Ballroom, the show was put on to raise money for Lesbians And Gays Support the Miners.

The band saw several lineup changes throughout their existence, but 1994 was when they officially called it a day. Somerville had left years earlier, Bronski produced other bands and Steinbachek was named the musical director for Remote Control Productions theatre company.

Bronski has since revived the band, but he remains the only original member on board.