AceShowbiz - The Stranglers keyboard player Dave Greenfield has died after contracting coronavirus.

The 71-year-old passed away on 3 May after reportedly contracting the killer virus following a lengthy stint in hospital undergoing treatment for various heart issues.

The sad news has been confirmed in a statement by bandmate Jean-Jacques Burnel, who writes, "On the evening of Sunday May 3rd, my great friend and longstanding colleague of 45 years, the musical genius that was Dave Greenfield, passed away as one of the victims of the Great Pandemic of 2020."

"All of us in the worldwide Stranglers family grieve and send our sincerest condolences to (Greenfield's wife) Pam."

Drummer Jet Black adds, "We have just lost a dear friend and music genius, and so has the whole world. Dave was a complete natural in music. Together, we toured the globe endlessly and it was clear he was adored by millions. A huge talent, a great loss, he is dearly missed."

The group's current vocalist, Baz Warne, has also offered up a tribute, writing, "We lost a true innovator, musical legend, and one of my dearest friends today. The word genius is bandied around far too easily in this day and age, but Dave Greenfield certainly was one."

"We stood together on the same side of the stage for 20 years, laughed, joked and shared our lives in the way that only band mates can. I'll miss him forever. Our thoughts and hearts are with his wife Pam, and to the millions of fans who worshipped at his altar, he'll never be equalled."

Greenfield joined The Stranglers in 1975 and wrote one of the group's biggest hits, "Golden Brown". The band was set to stage a farewell tour this summer but plans were scrapped due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The punk veteran joins the likes of John Prine, Fred the Godson, Adam Schlesinger, Joe Diffie, Matthew Seligman, Alan Merrill and Manu Dibango among the famous musicians who have lost their lives to COVID-19.