Legendary Skyhooks guitarist Bob Starkie dies at 73 after cancer battle: ‘Music was in his blood’

by

Iconic Australian rocker Bob ‘Bongo’ Starkie has died, aged 73, after a cancer battle.

In February, the Australian music community was deeply saddened to learn that Bob, the original guitarist for the iconic band Skyhooks, had received a diagnosis of an aggressive form of leukemia.

The band took to its Facebook page on Saturday to break the news to fans, with a heartfelt tribute.   

We are deeply saddened to share that Bob “Bongo” Starkie passed away early this morning.

He battled leukemia for a year, determined to return to performing. He loved music deeply, and it remained a part of him throughout his illness.

The post went on to say that Bob played guitar for the famous band Skyhooks. He was the youngest member and really enjoyed the showmanship, using everything from dramatic makeup to unusual outfits on stage.

‘The music always came first and touring and playing onstage was his absolute joy.

The members of Skyhooks are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our friend and bandmate, and we offer our heartfelt sympathy to Bob’s family.

The post shared that Bob passed away peacefully, with his family by his side, according to his daughter, Indiana.

Indiana shared that her beloved grandfather, affectionately known as ‘Grand-Daddy-Bop,’ passed away peacefully while listening to Chuck Berry, cuddling with his dog Bonnie, and surrounded by loved ones.

He will be deeply missed by his daughters, Indiana and Arabella, his grandchildren Phoenix and Lucia, his partner Chrissy, his close friend Ian, and his sons-in-law, Simon and Chris.

‘Thank you for all your support, he has felt the love till the very end’.

Fans flooded social media with heartfelt condolences and tributes after hearing the news about the legendary guitarist.

‘Oh no, what sad and tragic news to read this morning,’ one fan wrote.

I’m deeply saddened by the news of Bongo’s passing and send my condolences to his family. Skyhooks was one of the first bands I truly loved, and I still enjoy their music after all these years. Rest in peace, Bongo.

Another offered a solemn: ‘Another shard of our youthful souls splinters. 

It’s difficult to convey the impact Skyhooks had on Australian rock music and the boost they gave to musicians’ confidence unless you experienced that era firsthand. It was a truly special time, and Bongo was central to Skyhooks’ success. Rest in peace, Bongo.

The guitarist took to Facebook in January to reveal his diagnosis. 

The news arrived just as Skyhooks’ classic album, Living in the 70’s, was climbing back into the top ten on the ARIA charts.

According to a recent post, the legendary Australian band Skyhooks celebrated their album ‘Living in the 70’s’ reaching the Top 10 on the ARIA charts on Friday, January 24th.

Unfortunately, the band’s guitarist, Bob “Bongo” Starkie, had to go to the hospital because he wasn’t feeling well.

‘Unfortunately, the test results revealed that Bob has been diagnosed with aggressive leukaemia.’

Skyhooks quickly became famous in Australia with their first album, ‘Living In The 70’s,’ released in 1974.

The band was famous for its over-the-top outfits and makeup, and its songs frequently mentioned Australian locations and traditions.

This band wasn’t shy about tackling difficult or provocative subjects, and as a result, six out of the ten songs on the album were banned from the radio for their lyrics.

Even so, “You Only Like Me Cos I’m Good In Bed” was the very first song played when your station, Double J (which later became Triple J), first went on air in January 1975.

The album remained number one in Australia for 16 weeks and was the best-selling album by an Australian artist when it was released.

In 2011, this famous album was recognized as a significant piece of Australian sound history and was added to the National Film and Sound Archive’s Sounds of Australia collection.

The band continued to record music, releasing four additional studio albums, such as Ego Is Not A Dirty Word in 1975 and Straight in A Gay Gay World in 1976.

Bob received his diagnosis following the death of his brother, Peter, who was also in the band Skyhooks. Peter tragically fell from a ladder at his home in Victoria in 2020.

The band’s seminal frontman Graeme ‘Shirley’ Strachan diesd in a helicopter crash in 2001.

Read More

2025-11-29 07:04