Dave Cousins, the leader of The Strawbs, has passed away.
This news has been confirmed by various sources, although a cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Dave Cousins was 80 years old.
He founded The Strawbs, initially called The Strawberry Hills Boys, in 1964, focusing on bluegrass and American folk music. Over time, they expanded their style and shortened their name, emerging as leaders in folk-rock before exploring progressive rock.
The band’s single “Part Of The Union” reached No. 2 on the charts in 1973, although The Strawbs eventually became less active by the late 70s.
Subsequent anniversary reunions helped revive their career, and the 21st century saw them embarking on extensive and successful tours, releasing new material in the process.
Dave Cousins’ family released an official statement sharing the news:
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of David Joseph Cousins at the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury, where he peacefully passed away after a long illness, today, Sunday 13 July 2025.
We hope that you will take the time to celebrate the life of this remarkable singer-songwriter, relative, colleague, and special friend.
We encourage you to listen to your favorite Cousins song as the sun sets wherever you are, perhaps enjoying what he affectionately called a glass of 'vino collapso' (wine)…
You will be updated with more information regarding his passing and that of The Strawbs on his and the band’s Facebook pages and on Strawbsweb (www.strawbsweb.co.uk).
In the meantime, we invite you to remember a wonderful, talented individual whose life has impacted us all.
Tony Visconti reflected on him as “a great musician and a friend.”
The University of Leicester awarded Dave Cousins an honorary Doctorate of Music in 2023, expressing their deep sadness over his death."
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Dave Cousins, the leader of The Strawbs, has passed away. This has been confirmed by various sources, though the cause of death has not been disclosed. Dave Cousins was 80 years old.