Bonnie Tyler, the singer behind power ballad Total Eclipse of the Heart and rock epic Holding Out for a Hero, has died aged 75.
A statement posted to Tyler’s official Facebook page says she died “unexpectedly” last night in hospital in Portugal.
“Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for,” the statement reads. “We will issue a further statement shortly but for now ask for privacy to deal with this tragedy.”
Tyler was rushed to a hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she lived, in May for emergency intestinal surgery, and was placed in an induced coma. Last month, Tyler emerged from the coma but remained unwell in intensive care. It was reported at the time that her condition was improving. There was even talk of tour dates later this year.
The south Wales-born singer was behind one of the biggest songs of the 1980s: 1983’s rock opera Total Eclipse of the Heart, although she recently said she barely saw a penny from it. The song, which was streamed for the one billionth time on Spotify earlier this year, was solely written by Jim Steinman, so, according to the BBC, publishing royalties go to his estate. The remaining money goes to the owner of the master recording — currently Sony Music — which shares a percentage with Tyler based on the recording contract she’d signed in the 80s, long before the emergence of downloads and streaming. Spotify said it paid out $1.4 million in royalties for Tyler’s back catalogue last year.
In an interview with the BBC, Taylor said she never tires of singing Total Eclipse of the Heart. “It’s quite an evergreen song,” she said, “how many times have you heard it popping up in adverts and movies People just love it.”
Holding Out for a Hero was recorded for the soundtrack to 1984 film Footloose, starring Kevin Bacon, and later appeared in Volition’s 2011 game, Saints Row: The Third during the final mission, and in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Total Eclipse of the Heart, meanwhile, played during the intro to Battlefield 4. In fact, Tyler’s songs have appeared in a long list of video games, including Just Dance, Singstar, and We Sing.
Photo by Aldara Zarraoa/Redferns.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
