Doc Neeson – Skin Back Alley

Photo: Anthony Johnson

The Angels frontman, Doc Neeson, has died at the age of 67. He had been receiving treatment for a brain tumour.

The Irish-born Australian musician vowed in 2013 that he would be amongst the 20% of those with the disease who went on to beat it. It appeared that he had done so until he announced that the cancer had returned earlier this year.

The Angels’ drummer Buzz Bidstrup announced: “It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Bernard ‘Doc’ Neeson. He left the world early this morning. I join music lovers everywhere in mourning this great man.”

Former Guns n’ Roses manager Alan Niven, who wrote songs for the Angels, said: “Tears and fond laughter in the beer tonight. I never thought of him as a rock star, but rather as a character who stumbled out of a JP Donleavy novel and onto the stage.”

Neeson was recently awarded the Order Of Australia Medal and admitted: “I felt kind of humble. I haven’t saved any lives. I feel honoured to be in that company.”