Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer whose unmistakable raspy voice powered some of the most enduring anthems of the 1980s, has died at the age of 75. Her death follows a period of serious illness after emergency surgery in Portugal earlier this year.
For generations of queer people, Tyler’s music was more than just radio-friendly rock; it was the soundtrack to countless nights out. Her 1984 hit, 'Holding Out for a Hero', famously reached number two in the UK charts, a success driven in large part by its relentless popularity in gay clubs, where it was played on a loop long before it dominated mainstream airwaves.
Perhaps her most definitive track, 'Total Eclipse of the Heart', became a karaoke and dancefloor staple. Its music video, a masterclass in gothic camp featuring windswept students at a boarding school, has been a source of queer fascination and interpretation since its release in 1983.
Tyler was well aware of her dedicated LGBTQ+ following and embraced it. In an interview with Metro, she recalled her time playing iconic venues that were central to gay culture.
"I used to play The Saint club in New York. An amazing place. The sights I've seen. A bit shocking but fun."
Her support for the community went beyond the dancefloor. Tyler was an open and consistent ally for LGBTQ+ rights. She often spoke of her gay nephew and her niece, who married her girlfriend on the same day Elton John and David Furnish entered their civil partnership. "Love is love, a heart is a heart," she once stated, summarising her straightforward view on equality.
In May, Tyler was hospitalised in Faro, Portugal, and underwent emergency intestinal surgery. She was placed in an induced coma to aid her recovery. A spokesperson confirmed last month that while she was no longer in a coma, she remained in intensive care. At the time, doctors were reportedly 'confident' in her eventual recovery, though progress was described as 'slow'. Her planned summer tour dates were cancelled.
A brief statement from her representatives confirmed the news, asking for privacy "to deal with this tragedy."
