Peter Starkie, a founding member of Australian rock band Skyhooks, has died at the age of 72, the Melbourne band confirmed on their Facebook page earlier on September 15.
The 72-year-old passed away by falling from a ladder.
Hisbrother Bob Starkie,sharing the heartbreaking news in a Facebook post wrote, “My brother Peter has tragically died in one of those stupid ladder accidents, Peter George Starkie was born in Sydney in 1948, he was only 72 when he took the dive and had plenty of life ahead of him.”
Starkie co-founded the Melbourne rock band in 1973 alongside Steve Hill, Peter Ingliss, Greg Macainsh and Freddie Strauks, and performed at numerous early gigs. Later that year, he was replaced by brother Bob “Bongo” Starkie.
Skyhooks became famous in thr mid-70s with hits including ‘Horror Movie’, ‘Women In Uniform’ and ‘All My Friends Are Getting Married’. Their lead singer Graeme ‘Shirley’ Strachan died in 2001 following a helicopter accident, after which they stopped performing regularly.
“Apart from being a fabulous guitarist he was a brother who I looked up to. He went on to father three wonderful daughters. A step daughter Alice and Ruby and Stella to Mother Carmel. Cousins to my daughters Indiana and Arabella. For the last twenty odd years he has lived happily inseparable with partner Dianna, “Bob said of his brother.
