Pete Byrne, the singer whose voice defined Naked Eyes’ run of early-1980s new-wave hits, has died at the age of 74.
A spokesperson confirmed that the musician “passed away peacefully” in Los Angeles on September 14, following a “brief illness”. No cause of death was given at the time of publication.
His family is set to hold a private service, with fans invited to pay their respects online.
A band statement issued on their website read: “A private service will be held for the family.
“For those wishing to pay their respects, please support his music and condolences can be posted below in the comment section of this blog post.”
The London-born musician began performing in the mid-1970s, first as part of a duo with Jeff Starrs and later in the bands Studio and Neon. Neon’s line-up included Rob Fisher – Byrne’s future songwriting partner – as well as musicians who would go on to form Tears for Fears, including Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal. The pair’s creative partnership evolved into Naked Eyes in 1982.
The duo quickly became fixtures of the UK and US new-wave scenes. Naked Eyes first broke into the US charts in the early ’80s, earning a place on the Billboard 200 and building momentum with four singles that became radio staples – a cover of Burt Bacharach’s Always Something There to Remind Me, Promises, Promises, When the Lights Go Out and (What) In the Name of Love.
Although the group never toured, their polished synth-driven sound became a staple of the era’s radio and MTV rotation. Naked Eyes disbanded after their second album, and Fisher later died in 1999.
Away from the band, Byrne contributed backing vocals to Stevie Wonder’s chart-topping 1985 single Part-Time Lover and wrote music for film, television and projects involving Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. He continued performing internationally after Fisher’s death, releasing his solo album The Real Illusion in 2001 before reviving Naked Eyes in 2005. The reformed project produced Fumbling with the Covers in 2007, Disguise the Limit in 2021 and a remastered edition of their eponymous debut in 2025.
