Reg Presley of The Troggs dies aged 71
Written by admin on February 4, 2013 – 11:12 pm - |
Reg Presley, frontman for The Troggs, has died from lung cancer at his home in Andover, Hampshire.
Presley retired from his band in December 2011 after the cancer diagnosis. |
Music publicist, Keith Altham, posted the following tribute to his friend on Facebook:
“My dear old pal Reg Presley of The Troggs died today at 1.00, surrounded by family and friends at his home in Andover following a succession of recent strokes and a losing battle with cancer.
He was one very real person in a sometimes very unreal world. Our thoughts are with his wife Brenda and the family and those legion of fans who loved his music and his band. I will miss him hugely.”
Reg Presley was born Reginald Maurice Ball in Andover, Hampshire on June 12, 1941. He formed The Troggs in 1964 and was signed to Larry Page’s Page One Records the following year. It was Keith Altham’s suggestion that Reg take the surname Presley.
The Troggs’ breakthrough hit and one of the most well known songs of the decade was the million-selling “Wild Thing” in 1966, which hit number one in the US and number two in the UK. The song, penned by Chip Taylor, was first recorded in 1965 by The Wild Ones.
“Wild Thing” – The Troggs
The Troggs other million sellers were “With A Girl Like You” and “Love Is All Around,” both penned by Presley.
“With A Girl Like You” – The Troggs
A cover of “Love Is All Around” by Wet Wet Wet remained on top of the UK singles chart for 15 weeks in 1994.
In later years Presley became well known for his interest in UFO and crop circle research, as set out in his book “Wild Things They Don’t Tell Us”.
Tags: Reg Presley, Reg Presley death, Reg Presley obituary, The Troggs
Posted in British Invasion, Obituaries |
