TRIBUTES have been paid to Wirral drummer Les Brians following his untimely death last week.
The 57-year-old has been remembered by friends as "uplifting and positive" and was a member of Wirral bands Buster, Alternative Radio and Dante.
Former Buster bandmate Rob Fennah told the Globe: "First and foremost he was a brilliant drummer.
"I hadn't spoken to him for a while as he spent so much of his time in Germany and rarely came back to Wirral.
"We are all going to miss him."
Buster in promotional shot from 1976
Born in Wallasey, Les - whose real name was Les Smith - lived in Hanover and was the singer in local band Big Town Old Stars.
He had also travelled the world working as a technician for a sound system company.
Last year he injured his leg while working in South America which led to septicaemia.
It led to a liver transplant in March.
The transplant was a success but a recent infection led to his death in Germany on November 11.
Buster – which also featured Kevin Roberts and Peter Leay - formed in 1974.
Buster in 1977
Originally called The New Attractions, they took the Japanese pop charts by storm and had hits with Sunday and Dance With Me - the latter was used in a Japanese TV commercial for Choco Flakes, in which they appeared.
In 2014, the group featured on the website of the British Embassy in Japan as being one of the biggest-selling group’s in the country’s history.
Recalling Les' kind nature Rob continued: "He was always a very positive, very generous lad who would give you his last penny.
Buster during reunion in 2010
"We had a hit in Australia and went out there to film a video.
"We were on the Great Barrier Reef and a cameraman got into difficulty swimming.
"Les dived in to rescue him."
Buster during reunion in 2010
Buster was renamed as Alternative Radio in 1982 with the same band members Pete, Kev, Les and Rob and Rob's brother Allan.
It was during these shows that on another of Les’s talents emerged Rob recalled: "At the end of Alternative Radio gigs Les used would come out from behind the drums and do a fantastic display with a samurai sword.
“It was testament to how talented my friend was.”
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
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