Australian music icon James Freud, best known as a member of new wave legends Models, has died in Melbourne age 51. It is understood he took his own life. Freud started his music career in Teenage Radio Stars, who later morphed into James Freud & The Radio Stars. In 1982 he joined childhood friend Sean Kelly as bassist and vocalist in Models, and would go on to write two of the band’s biggest hits – ‘Barbados’ and ‘Out of Mind, Out of Sight’ before the band split in 1988.
Freud enjoyed some success post Models as a solo performer and participated in a number of the band’s increasingly frequent reunions. His success wasn’t without its personal demons, however, with autobiographies I Am the Voice Left from Drinking (2002) and I Am the Voice Left from Rehab (2007) candidly detailing his struggle with alcohol addiction. Models were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame last week, although Freud did not attend the ceremony. Bandmate Kelly commented to those in attendance that Freud had ‘had a bicycle accident’. Finally being given the accolades they were due by the Australian music industry, Models were about to hit the road for some of the biggest shows they’d played since breaking up in 1988 this coming summer. Freud is survived by his wife and two sons.
