Ron Peno with his most recent co-writer Cam Butler at his last Sydney show with The Superstitions in November 2022.
Died Pretty, The Superstitions and Darling Downs frontman Ron Peno passed away at his Melbourne home on Friday night after a four-and-a-half-year fight against cancer. He was aged 68.
Died Pretty announced the news earlier today. The band’s statement reads:
With great sadness we announce the passing of our singer Ron S Peno who left us peacefully on Friday evening in the presence of his loving wife Charity and his son Zebadiah, at his home in South Yarra, Melbourne.
For the last four-and a-half-years as he battled cancer, Ron displayed a resolute positivity and a profound depth of character that has proved inspirational to his fellow band members, manager and many friends. In the face of adversity he was towering.
For the 40 years Ron entertained us as Died Pretty's frontman he was never less than always charismatic. He has provided warm and enduring memories for those who shared the stage with him and for his audience. For many he is the soundtrack of their lives. He leaves us a legacy of extraordinary recordings that will continue to be treasured into the future.
Our hearts go out to Charity, Zebadiah and all his family and friends at this time. Ron will be sorely missed. The world will be a smaller place without him.
Ron's family and Died Pretty would like to thank his medical team at St Vincent's Hospital, the Calvary Bethlehem palliative care team, Support Act and everyone who made a donation or sent a message of love during Ron's time of need.
Ron's cancer fight took a turn for the worse in 2022 and he was put on a new treatment. Died Pretty had planned to undertake a tour in 2023 with a live album in tow, but side effects from his ongoing treatment and a diagnosis of lung cancer for drummer Chris Welsh made it impossible.
Ron Peno emerged from the Oxford Funhouse scene in Sydney as Ronnie Pop, frontman for The Hellcats and went on to play with The 31st and briefly the Screaming Tribesmen in Brisbane. He co-wrote the Tribesmen classic "Igloo" with Mick Medew but it would be with Died Pretty that he'd cement his reputation as one of Australia underground rock and roll's pre-eminent figures.
Spellbinding and energetic on-stage, he was an engaging and larger-than-life figure away from the lights.
Died Pretty released eight studio albums and achieved mainstream acclaim for their classic LP, "Doughboy Hollow".
A move to Melbourne after Died Pretty's discontinuation as a fulltime musical proposition resulted in him becoming a much-loved and inspiring figure in that city's scene. Partnerships with Kim Salmon in alt.country duo The Darling Downs, and more recenrtly with Cam Butler in Ron Peno and The Superstitions, produced compelling music.
