The celebrated musician officially retired from the band in 2018 (Picture: Ilpo Musto/Shutterstock)

Jet Black, a founding member of the punk rock band The Stranglers, has died ‘peacefully’ at the age of 84.

In a statement released by the new wave group, they said that it was with ‘heavy hearts’ that they announced his death.

‘Jet died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. Fond adieu, fly straight JB.x,’ they wrote on Twitter, while also sharing a link to a longer obituary in honour of their dear friend.

Born Brian John Duffy in Essex in 1938, Jet Black became a full-time musician in the mid-1970s resulting in the formation of The Stranglers in 1974, forgoing his previous career in business, which included owning a fleet of ice cream vans.

Known as the ‘elder statesmen’ of the band, Jet Black and his bandmates went on to achieve 23 UK top 40 singles and 19 UK top 40 albums throughout five decades.

JJ Burnel, 70, the bassist and co-frontman of The Stranglers, paid tribute to his Jet Black while also referencing their fellow late bandmate, keyboard player Dave Greenfield, who died in 2020 after contracting Covid-19.

The band, pictured in Primrose Hill in London in 1980, are one of the longest-surviving bands from the UK’s punk scene (Picture: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

‘The welcoming committee has doubled. After years of ill health Jet has finally been released,’ he said.

‘He was a force of nature. An inspiration. The Stranglers would not have been if it wasn’t for him. The most erudite of men. A rebel with many causes. Say hi to Dave for me.’

Baz Warne, 58, The Strangers’ guitarist and co-frontman, said: ‘I loved Jet. He took me under his wing over two decades ago and I never really came out from under it. I’m so very sad he’s gone.’

Warner said that Jet Black ‘hadn’t been too well for a while’, although when he spoke to him three weeks prior to his death, ‘he was laughing and wanting to hear all the news… still interested and involved’.

Jet Black was a drummer for jazz bands in the 1960s (Picture: L J Van Houten/Shutterstock)

‘It’s been my privilege to have known and worked with him, and to have called him a friend, and I’ll miss him until the end of my days. Rest in peace big man,’ he added.

Jet Black last performed with The Stranglers in 2015, before officially retiring from the group in 2018.

Sil Willcox, the band’s manager said that the late drummer was ‘the Jet force that launched the Stranglers’.

‘He was the Jet force that powered the bands determination to get heard and get noticed,’ he continued.

The musician was pictured at the headquarters for The Strangers in Frome, Somerset in 2014 (Picture: Kevin Nixon/Classic Rock Magazine/Future via Getty Images)

‘Jet Black was the real deal. Astute in business, a talented drummer and an obsessive perfectionist.

‘These are only a few of the talents of the man whom I was privileged to have as my mentor and my dear friend. I will cherish the times we planned, pranked, ate, drank and laughed on so many great nights together.’

On The Stranglers’ website, the band said: ‘In recent years, various health issues had become more debilitating, and Jet had been residing quietly in his country home in North Wales, close to his family and friends.’

Jet Black is survived by his wife Ava and his two children Charlotte and Anthony.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Marvin Gaye’s wife Janis Hunter Gaye dies aged 66

MORE : Kirstie Alley ‘battled colon cancer’ before her death at 71

The punk rock band paid tribute to the late musician.