EyeSpy: Remembering Reg Presley of The Troggs
The Troggs frontman Reg Presley has died after battling lung cancer. The Wing Thing singer was 71.
Reg’s daughter Karen told WENN, “He passed away peacefully at home and myself, my brother and our mother were with him. We’re absolutely heartbroken.”
The sixties heartthrob was was diagnosed with cancer last year while on tour and shortly after quit performing to fight the disease. He had previously suffered a stroke in 2010 and in 2011 recovered from pneumonia.
“As you all know I was taken ill whilst doing a gig in Germany in December.” he told the Troggs official website in January 2012, adding, “during my stay in hospital tests showed that in fact I have lung cancer. I am receiving chemotherapy treatment and at the moment not feeling too bad. However, I’ve had to call time on The Troggs and retire. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the cards and calls and for your love, loyalty and support over the years.”
Songs from the band’s early years continue to remain popular and still get regular airplay on ‘golden’ music networks such as Magic AM in the UK. His best known tracks include With a Girl Like You, Wild Thing and Love is All Around. The latter song has seen two revivals. First in the 1990s by Wet Wet Wet and a decade ago as a festive reworking, Christmas Is All Around by Bill Nighly.
ATV Today salute’s Reg with a song he penned himself. Love Is All Around as originally performed in 1967 in this promo video.
Presley was born Reginald Maurice Ball in Andover on the 12 June 1941 – Died 4th February 2013
