Phil May, singer for The Pretty Things, dead at 75

Phil May, singer of ’60s beat/psych group The Pretty Things has died following complications from surgery after a cycling accident. He was 75. The band shared the sad news today:

Phil May passed away at 7.05 a.m. on Friday 15 May at the Queen Elizabeth hospital, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. He was 75. He had been locked down in Norfolk with his family and, during the week Phil had suffered a fall from his bike and had undergone emergency hip surgery, after which complications set in.

Phil had been in poor health for some time when the Pretty Things played their last live concert, ‘The Final Bow,’ on 13 December 2018 at the Indigo, O2 where they were joined onstage by old friends David Gilmour and Van Morrison.

Coming up through the ’60s beat group scene, The Pretty Things scored a number of UK hits, including including “Don’t Bring Me Down,” “Honey I Need,” and “Cry to Me” but are now best known for 1968’s classic SF Sorrow, which is widely regarded as the first rock opera. The Pretty Things never broke up and continued to play, in various incarnations, through 2018. As the band note, The Pretty Things’ final show featured guest appearances from David Gilmour and Van Morrison.

Rest in peace, Phil. Watch a few Pretty Things performances, including some from ‘The Final Bow,’ as well as a few tributes from fellow artists (The Kinks’ Dave Davies, Edwyn Collins) below.