Reg Presley Dies: 'Wild Thing' Singer of The Troggs Mourned
Reg Presley, lead singer of The Troggs, has died on Monday at the age of 71.
The "Wild Thing" singer had been battling lung cancer for one year when he died at his home in Andover, England, according to The Associated Press.
The singer's agent Keith Altham confirmed Presley's death via Facebook late Monday night.
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"My dear old pal Reg Presley of The Troggs died today," he wrote, referring to Presley as "one very real person in a sometimes very unreal world."
Presley's life ended after "a succession of recent strokes," and when he passed he reportedly was surrounded by family members.
Presley's daughter Karen revealed to the music website WENN that her brother, mother, and herself were present when the singer died.
"We're absolutely heartbroken," she said.
During the "British Invasion" and "Beatlemania" of the 1960's, The Troggs swept the music scene with their garage-rock song "Wild Thing," and then again with "With a Girl Like You" and "Love Is All Around."
The English band emerged on the scene along with the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, the Who, and of course, the Beatles, and helped pave the way for Iggy Pop, the Buzzcocks, and the Ramones of the 1970's.
The Troggs' song "Love Is All Around" was revived during the '90's when REM and Wet Wet Wet released covers of the ballad.
On Twitter Tuesday, fans of The Troggs as well as Presley's were mourning the singer.
"So sorry to hear the sad news about Reg Presley passing away today, over the years I met him on several occasions, he was a lovely guy," wrote Tony Blackburn.
Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan posted, "RIP Reg Presley of The Troggs. A true pioneer of R 'N R music/Genius songewriter."
"Very sad to hear of the death of Troggs frontman Reg Presley," added Ian.
