Brian Anthony Howe, an English rock singer and songwriter, has passed away after having a heart attack on Wednesday. He was 66.
He was best known for replacing Paul Rodgers as the lead vocalist of Bad Company in 1986.
Howe died, just weeks after moving from his longtime home on Fort Myers Beach to Lake Placid.
On Thursday, his manager Paul Easton said in a news release that Howe died of a heart attack on Wednesday.
He was found still conscious in his home in Lake Placid, Florida. “Though EMTs were able to have a short conversation with him, he slipped away and they were unable to revive him,” according to the release.
It was his second heart attack. He had his first heart attack in September 26, 2017, while driving on Fort Myers Beach. He had to undergo angioplasty to open the heart blockage with two stents.
Friends and fans paid tribute to Howe on Thursday. His longtime friend and bassist Cliff Williams said, “I always enjoyed Brian’s company and had many a good laugh with him as two old Brits together. Great voice. He will be missed as a friend and a talent.”
Howe lived on Fort Myers Beach for nearly 35 years before moving to Lake Placid in April.
Born on July 22, 1953 in the seaport town of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, Howe sang with a local band called Shy but he quickly quit, seeking a harder rock band.
His father was a semi-pro club singer who used to perform pop hits at night in 1950s. Howe had a brief stint with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) group White Spirit, having replaced their recently departed singer Bruce Ruff.
