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Peter Byrne, the singer and songwriter best known for co-founding the 1980s synth-pop band Naked Eyes, has passed away at the age of 74. The band announced Byrne’s peaceful death on September 23, revealing he died in Los Angeles on September 14 after a brief illness.
Born in Islington, North London, in 1952, Byrne teamed up with longtime musical partner Rob Fisher in 1982 to form Naked Eyes. Prior to this, the duo played together in the band Neon, which also featured future Tears for Fears members Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal.
Naked Eyes gained rapid success in the United States with their distinctive synth-driven cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Always Something There to Remind Me.” Recorded at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios with producer Tony Mansfield, Byrne recalled that he and Fisher reconstructed the song purely from memory after having a friend read the lyrics over the phone.
Initially released in the UK in 1982, the track became a major hit in the US in 1983, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It remains Naked Eyes’ biggest American hit.
The band continued to chart with original Byrne-Fisher songs like “Promises, Promises” (No. 11), “When the Lights Go Out” (No. 37), and “(What) In the Name of Love” (No. 39), securing four Top 40 hits within two years.
Their debut album, titled Burning Bridges in the UK and Naked Eyes in the US, peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200. They followed up with a second album, Fuel for the Fire, in 1984.
Beyond Naked Eyes, Byrne contributed backing vocals to Stevie Wonder’s 1985 No. 1 hit “Part-Time Lover” and later composed music for film and television, including projects featuring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
Rob Fisher passed away in 1999 at age 42 following cancer surgery. Byrne later revived Naked Eyes as a live act and continued recording and touring under the band’s name. Naked Eyes released the covers album Fumbling with the Covers in 2007 and Disguise the Limit in 2021, with a remastered edition of their original album arriving in 2025.
Even into his 70s, Byrne remained active on stage. In 2024, Naked Eyes joined Wang Chung, Men Without Hats, and The Motels for the Abducted by the 80’s tour.
Peter Byrne is survived by his siblings Eileen, Sandy, Carol, and Steve; his children Merlin, Dylan, and Chloe; and his ex-wife, Elena. A private service will be held for family members.