Peter Byrne, the singer and songwriter who co-founded synth-pop duo Naked Eyes and sang lead vocals on a string of enduring 1980s hits, has died. He was 74.
Byrne died peacefully in Los Angeles on Monday (Sept. 14) following a brief illness, according to a press release provided to Billboard announcing his death. He is survived by his siblings Eileen, Sandy, Carol and Steve; his three children, Merlin, Dylan and Chloe; and his ex-wife, Elena. A private family service will be held.
Born in Islington, North London, Byrne began his musical career in Bath, England, where his early projects included a duo with Jeff Starrs from 1976 to 1977 and the band Studio from 1977 to 1979. He later joined Neon, a group that included Rob Fisher as well as future Tears for Fears members Neil Taylor, Manny Elias, Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal.
In 1982, Byrne and Fisher formed Naked Eyes and signed with EMI Records. Their debut album, released in the U.K. as Burning Bridges and in the U.S. as Naked Eyes, was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with producer Tony Mansfield. The album reached a peak of No. 32 on the Billboard 200 in 1983.
The duo’s biggest success came with its synth-pop interpretation of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Always Something There to Remind Me,” which climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. It remains Naked Eyes’ lone top 10 hit on the Hot 100 chart. The song also reached No. 20 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart and No. 37 on the Dance Club Songs chart.
Naked Eyes then followed with three more Hot 100 top 40 hits. “Promises, Promises,” written by Byrne and Fisher, reached No. 11 in 1983, while “When the Lights Go Out” peaked at No. 37 later that year. The duo’s final top 40 hit, “(What) In the Name of Love,” reached No. 39 in 1984. (“Promises, Promises” also has a connection to beloved pop icon Madonna; she provided backing vocals for John “Jellybean” Benitez’s remixes of the song in the 1980s, though those versions weren’t released until years later.)
Fisher died in 1999, though Byrne continued Naked Eyes’ legacy, writing, recording and touring in the U.S. and internationally. He released his solo album The Real Illusion in 2001 under the name Pete Byrne, followed by Naked Eyes’ Fumbling with the Covers in 2007 and Disguise the Limit in 2021. A remastered edition of the group’s original self-titled album was released in 2025.
According to the provided statement, those wishing to pay their respects are encouraged to support Byrne’s music. Condolences can also be posted on the Naked Eyes website.
