Buzzcocks singer Pete Shelley dies aged 63

Punk rock hero and Buzzcocks frontman Pete Shelley has died at the age of 63, his family has confirmed.

The singer, songwriter and guitarist passed away following a suspected heart attack on Thursday in Estonia, his country of residence, the BBC reports.

His brother, Gary John McNeish, announced the news in a post on Facebook.

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The Buzzcocks also posted a message about Shelley’s death, on the band’s Twitter account.

In a statement, the band added: “Pete’s music has inspired generations of musicians over a career that spanned five decades and with his band and as a solo artist, he was held in the highest regard by the music industry and by his fans around the world.”

Shelley, real name Peter Campbell McNeish, formed Buzzcocks in 1976 and achieved commercial success with hits including Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't’ve). The group was “regarded as more polished, but musically no less influential, than the Sex Pistols”, says the BBC.

The Independent adds that Buzzcocks “went on hiatus and reformed several times”, putting out nine studio albums in total, the latest of which came out in 2014.

Shelley also embraced a solo career and released six studio albums, including the groundbreaking Homosapien in 1981.

Musicians, fans and friends have been paying tribute to the late singer on social media: