Pete Shelley has died at the age of 63.
The Buzzcocks lead singer has passed away following a suspected heart attack.
The rocker, whose real name was Peter Campbell McNeish, was born in Lancashire in 1955.
He formed Buzzcocks in 1975 with pal Howard Devoto after they met at the Bolton Institute of Technology and travelled to London together to see the Sex Pistols.
The band went on to debut the following year in Manchester, when they opened for the band that had inspired them.
Buzzcocks released their first EP, Spiral Scratch, on their own independent label in 1977.
Pete also began working on solo material in 1974, but it remained unheard until 1980 when it was released on his own label, Groovy Records.
Pete on stage on 2009 (Image: Getty Images)Pete back in the day (Image: Redferns)
The band paid tribute after his death.
They wrote on Twitter: "It's with great sadness that we confirm the death of Pete Shelley, one of the UK's most influential and prolific songwriters and co-founder of the seminal original punk band Buzzcocks.
"Pete's music has inspired generations of musicians over a career that spanned five decades and with his band and as a solo artist, he was held in the highest regard by the music industry and by his fans around the world."
Buzzcocks scored a number of huge hits which remain popular today, including Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't).
Buzzcocks were together until 1981, and later reformed in 1989.
Shelley also composed the theme music for the intro to the Tour de France on Channel 4. His music was used from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s.