Nicky Tesco, a founding member of UK punks The Members, has died aged 66.
The news was confirmed in a post on Tesco’s Facebook page, which simply said that Tesco had “left the building” and died on Saturday (February 26).
Tesco formed The Members in 1976 alongside Gary Baker (guitar), Steve Morley (bass guitar) and Clive Parker (drums), and the band underwent a number of line-up changes across his career.
Their debut album, ‘At The Chelsea Nightclub’, came out in 1979 and featured their biggest hits, ‘Sounds Of The Suburbs’ and ‘Solitary Confinement’.
26.02.22Mr Tesco has left the building.Thanks for everything.
Posted by Nick Tesco on Sunday, February 27, 2022
Tesco departed the band in 1983 before going on to launch a successful acting career, appearing in movies such as Cha Cha Cha (1989) and Amar Akbar & Tony (2015), as well as composing music for films.
The Members reunited without him in 2008, and have steadily released new albums across the last decade. Their most recent album, ‘Bedsitland’, came out in 2021.
Tributes have been pouring in online for Tesco since news of his death broke. Rough Trade led the tributes, writing: “RIP Nicky Tesco, the magnetic former frontman of The Members. Thoughts with your loved ones.”
RIP Nicky Tesco, the magnetic former frontman of The Members.
Thoughts with your loved ones. pic.twitter.com/lESwGD87Le
— Rough Trade (@RoughTrade) February 28, 2022
Writer David Quantick also paid tribute online, tweeting: “The Members were a brilliant group with fantastic observational, witty songs. Their singer Nicky Tesco was a fantastic frontman and in later years a great presence on social media. RIP Nicky Tesco.”
The Members were a brilliant group with fantastic observational, witty songs. Their singer Nicky Tesco was a fantastic frontman and in later years a great presence on social media. RIP Nicky Tesco. pic.twitter.com/BKHikYf2sG
— David Quantick (@quantick) February 27, 2022
Pete Paphides added: “I remember my brother first playing Sound Of The Suburbs by The Members – a song which perfectly mirrored the hot oil & cold water mix of ennui and pent-up energy of teen life far away from punk’s epicentre. He loved them, and very soon after, so did I.
“Much later, I saw the byline Nick Tesco in Music Week & wondered if this was the same guy. On Twitter, I learned not only was he *the* Nicky Tesco, but that he was a sweetheart: wise, humane, funny & gentle as you’d want the pop stars of your youth to be.
“His appearance on my timeline always prompted an involuntary half-smile – until today, that is. What desperately sad news. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his loved ones.”
I remember my brother first playing Sound Of The Suburbs by The Members – a song which perfectly mirrored the hot oil & cold water mix of ennui and pent-up energy of teen life far away from punk’s epicentre. He loved them, and very soon after, so did I. https://t.co/cNPs4GeOOE
— Pete Paphides (@petepaphides) February 27, 2022
His appearance on my timeline always prompted an involuntary half-smile – until today, that is. What desperately sad news. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his loved ones. #NickTescoRIP pic.twitter.com/HKDP13DwVf
— Pete Paphides (@petepaphides) February 27, 2022
Fans have also been paying their tributes, with one saying that Tesco “contributed to the sound of my youth” and another praising how he was “as passionate and acerbic on [Twitter] as he was all those years ago with The Members”.
See a range of tributes to the late singer below.
Just seen that Nicky Tesco from the Members has passed away. RIP Nicky, you contributed to the sound of my youth.
— OrDiNaRy bLoKe (@24646216) February 28, 2022
So sad to hear about Nicky Tesco. He was as passionate and acerbic on here as he was all those years ago with The Members; a great loss. pic.twitter.com/LEjmOARO2D
— Andrew Watson (@sussexsedition) February 27, 2022
"Drum's quite good, the bass is too loud
And I can't hear the words"No doubting that Sound Of The Suburbs is one of the nailed on punk classics, but was always much more to The Members than that one song
RIP Nicky Tesco pic.twitter.com/N3VA2GIqWj
— Daz Darkside (@RammyDarkside) February 27, 2022
RIP Nick Lightowlers at the age of 66, better known as Nicky Tesco, frontman of underrated punk band The Members whose great single Sound of the Suburbs gives me pleasure to this day pic.twitter.com/cOasswskVF
— Blueboi (@Blueboi190512) February 28, 2022
Sad news about Nick Tesco today. Glad to have had the chance to tell him how much I loved the Members, and Leningrad Cowboys Go America. He was always the funniest man in the room, with all the best stories pic.twitter.com/fruL4p0RZS
— South Records (@southrecordshop) February 27, 2022
Goodbye and thanks to Nicky Tesco from The Members. Punk legend. Sound of the Suburbs is one of the greatest punk/new wave singles. Christ, they're all going 💔
— Lou (@lou_carr79) February 27, 2022