Chris Bailey, frontman of the Saints, whose ‘70s single (“I’m) Stranded” was the one of the sparks that lit the punk scene, died Saturday (April 9) at the age of 65.
Born in Kenya in 1957, and raised in Brisbane, Australia, Bailey formed the pioneering punk outfit in 1973 with guitarist and songwriter Ed Kuepper and drummer Ivor Hay.
With energy to burn, and the songwriting talents to tell their stories, the Saints soaked up the frustration of living in the culturally-stifling Queensland of premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and let it all spill out on (“I’m) Stranded.”
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The Saints’ sound would mature, adding horns to the arrangements, but never losing the energy of those early recordings. Bailey enjoyed a long solo career, his 1986 song “Just Like Fire Would” covered by Bruce Springsteen on the Boss’ 2014 album High Hopes.
Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes wrote, “One of the greatest songwriters this country produced has passed away. His band The Saints were punks before punk. He was a master of words and helped tell our story.”
Bailey contributed vocals to the song “Bring It On,” which appeared on Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ 2003 album Nocturama. Bad Seed and Dirty Three violist Warren Ellis remembered Bailey as “one of the best singers” and the Saints “one of the best bands.”