Troggs singer Reg Presley dies of lung cancer

THE lead singer of 60s rock band The Troggs, Reg Presley, has died at the age of 71. The band’s frontman died at his home in Andover, Hampshire, his daughter, Karen, confirmed.

Struggling with failing health in recent years, he had retired from music a year ago to concentrate on battling lung cancer.

The Troggs had a number of hit songs during the 60s, including Wild Thing, and Love Is All Around. Both songs were later to be massive hits for Jimi Hendrix and Scots pop group Wet Wet Wet.

Music publicist Keith Altham paid tribute to Presley, saying his “dear old pal” had died “following a succession of recent strokes and a losing battle with cancer”.

In a tribute posted on Facebook, he said that the singer had died surrounded by his family and friends: “He was one very real person in a sometimes very unreal world.”