THE HANDSOME BEASTS To Play BRITISH STEEL FESTIVAL Despite Frontman's Death

Following the terrible news that THE HANDSOME BEASTS singer Garry Dalloway was found dead in his apartment on August 20, there was speculation on whether THE HANDSOME BEASTS would now be playing The British Steel Festival.

Garry himself had suggested his replacement before his death, and the festival organizers have now announced that THE HANDSOME BEASTS will be appearing with their new frontman, Simon Hall.

Commented the organizers in a statement: "We hope to make the day a fitting tribute to Garry and his music, and we wish THE HANDSOME BEASTS, and Simon especially, the best of luck on the day and in the future."

As previously reported, Dalloway died of an apparent heart attack.

Longtime fan Fred Dronsrt described Dalloway on the Miskatonic Foundation message board as "a true rocker and a very talented and gifted singer, and a weird character. He was known to live like a recluse, with hardly any contact with the outside. He was not into that metal way of singing, more the classic rock voice, like Robert Plant. Soulful is the word indeed.

"Gary Dalloway already had a heart attack a few years back, probably due to his rock 'n' roll way of life and [being] overweight. He will leave three classic albums, a couple of singles, and maybe a posthumous album, as I think the band already recorded the follow-up to the brilliant '04' CD. Pete Way from UFO was guesting on the new songs."

THE HANDSOME BEASTS were the first signing of the indie Heavy Metal Records label (in fact, Paul Birch, a fan of the band, founded the label to release the band's first single as he couldn't secure any other label deal),and were one of the more blues-based bands of the time, not quite typical of the young NWOBHM bands that were emerging in the early '80s. They are best remembered for their hilarious "Beastiality"album cover, featuring largish vocalist Garry Dalloway, wearing what looks like a G-string, cavorting with an equally large pig in a sty.