Pete Byrne became the surviving half of Naked Eyes after his longtime musical partner, Rob Fisher, died from cancer in 1999.
WASHINGTON — Pete Byrne, the singer and keyboardist who helped lead the 1980s new wave duo Naked Eyes, has died at 74.
The news was announced on the official Naked Eyes website, marking the loss of an artist whose work helped define the enduring pop soundtrack of the 1980s.
According to the website, Byrne died Monday, Sept. 21, in California following a brief illness.
Fisher, the other founding member of Naked Eyes, died in 1999 at age 42 after battling cancer. Although the British duo officially ended in 1984, Byrne returned to the group’s catalog decades later, performing the songs on tour and issuing live recordings.
Naked Eyes emerged during the British new wave surge of the 1980s, a period when MTV helped propel synth-driven pop acts into the international spotlight.
The duo’s signature hit, “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me,” was recorded at Abbey Road and released in 1982. With Byrne’s wistful vocals set against bright synth-pop production, the track captured the era’s talent for pairing melancholy lyrics with an upbeat, danceable sound. Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for soul singer Lou Johnson in 1964, the song found a new audience through Naked Eyes.
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Their debut album, “Burning Bridges,” also produced the hit “Promises, Promises,” which Byrne and Fisher wrote together. Its memorable MTV video featured the duo in black-and-white prison uniforms, performing with a brooding intensity behind cell bars.
Another standout from the first album was “When the Lights Go Out,” which became a favorite among Naked Eyes listeners.
The duo followed with its second album, “Fuel for the Fire,” but disbanded after the release failed to achieve the commercial impact of their debut.
Byrne continued making music after Naked Eyes split, pursuing solo songwriting and recording projects. He also sang backing vocals on Stevie Wonder’s 1985 hit “Part-Time Lover.”
In 2001, Byrne released the solo album “The Real Illusion.” He later kept the Naked Eyes legacy alive through compilations, reissues and performances released under the group’s name during the 21st century.
The Naked Eyes website said Byrne is survived by his siblings, Eileen, Sandy, Carol and Steve; his children, Merlin, Dylan and Chloe; and his former wife, Elena.
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