Published: September 24, 2026 · 12:16 AM EDT
The British new wave singer and co-founder of Naked Eyes died September 14 in Los Angeles after a brief illness, leaving behind four Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits and a musical legacy spanning more than four decades
Pete Byrne, singer, songwriter and co-founder of the British new wave duo Naked Eyes, died on September 14, 2026, in Los Angeles, California, following a brief illness. He was 74. His death was announced on September 23 through the band's official website, which confirmed that the musician died peacefully. A specific cause of death was not disclosed.Born in Islington, North London, Byrne formed Naked Eyes in 1982 with keyboardist and longtime musical partner Rob Fisher. The duo achieved international recognition with their 1983 debut album, released as Burning Bridges in the United Kingdom and Naked Eyes in the United States.
“Always Something There to Remind Me,” their synth-pop interpretation of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David composition, reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. The duo followed with “Promises, Promises,” which peaked at No. 11, establishing Naked Eyes as a recognizable act on American radio during the early 1980s.Their second album, Fuel for the Fire, arrived in 1984 and produced two additional U.S. Top 40 singles: “When the Lights Go Out,” which reached No. 37, and “(What) In the Name of Love,” which peaked at No. 39. Their debut album also reached No. 32 on the Billboard 200.
Before forming Naked Eyes, Byrne and Fisher performed together in Neon, a British group whose lineup also included future Tears for Fears members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.
Read: Tears for Fears Set to Release First Live Album Songs for a Nervous Planet This Week
Following Fisher's death in 1999, Byrne continued recording and performing under the Naked Eyes name. His later releases included The Real Illusion (2001), Fumbling with the Covers (2007) and Disguise the Limit (2021). A remastered edition of the duo's original debut album was released in 2025.
Byrne also contributed backing vocals to Stevie Wonder's 1985 hit “Part-Time Lover” and continued writing music for film and television. He is survived by his three children, Merlin, Dylan and Chloe, along with his siblings and former wife.
Watch Naked Eyes’ official “Always Something There to Remind Me” music video, featuring Pete Byrne on vocals and Rob Fisher on keyboards, below:
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
IMAGE CREDIT: Archive photograph.
