Peter Byrne, Naked Eyes Singer Known for "Always Something There to Remind Me," Dies at 74

Peter Byrne, the vocalist for the 1980s New Wave band Naked Eyes, known for their hit song "Always Something There to Remind Me," has died at the age of 74. The band's website announced his passing on September 14, stating he died peacefully after a "brief illness."

Naked Eyes, formed in 1982 and active until 1984, achieved significant success during their brief initial run. Their synth-pop cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" became a top-10 hit. The band also charted with three other songs: "Promises, Promises," "When the Lights Go Out," and "(What) In the Name of Love."

Byrne co-founded Naked Eyes with keyboardist Rob Fisher. Both artists hailed from Bath, England, and had been friends since university before performing together. Prior to Naked Eyes, Byrne and Fisher were part of the band Neon from 1979 to 1982, alongside Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal, who would later achieve fame with Tears for Fears.

The debut album for Naked Eyes, "Burning Bridges," was released in March 1983, following the success of their lead single. Their second album, "Fuel for the Fire," came out in September 1984 but did not achieve the same level of commercial success. "(What) In the Name of Love" reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, but the album struggled to chart.

Despite their radio hits, Naked Eyes never toured during their initial period, as Byrne and Fisher found it challenging to replicate their studio sound with a live band.

After Naked Eyes disbanded, Byrne released a solo album, "The Real Illusion," in 2001. He later revived the Naked Eyes name as a solo project in 2006, releasing "Fumbling with the Covers" in 2007, which featured both covers and earlier Naked Eyes material. In 2021, he released "Disguise the Limit," the first album of new original material from Naked Eyes in 37 years.

Byrne's other notable contributions include singing backing vocals on Stevie Wonder's 1985 hit "Part-Time Lover" and writing the song "I Am the Cute One" for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in 1993. Rob Fisher died in 1999 following cancer surgery.

Byrne is survived by his siblings Eileen, Sandy, Carol, and Steve, as well as his children Merlin, Dylan, and Chloe, and his ex-wife Elena. A private memorial service is planned for his family.