Eurogliders Frontman Bernie Lynch Passes Away at 72 After Cancer Battle
Bernie Lynch, the frontman and co-founder of the Australian pop group Eurogliders, known for their hit "Heaven (Must Be There)," has died at 72 after battling throat cancer.
Bernie Lynch, frontman and co-founder of Eurogliders, the Australian pop group famed for hits in the mid-1980s, most notably “Heaven (Must Be There),” has passed away at the age of 72 following a battle with throat cancer.
"It’s with a heavy heart I’m posting this to let everyone know that Bernie passed away last Thursday (March 12),” shared vocalist Grace Knight, who was married to Lynch in the ‘80s. “I am heartbroken and don’t know how to proceed without him.”
Knight continued, “I don’t know how many shows Eurogliders have done over the years, it must be thousands, and for every single one of them, I’ve had Bernie there, standing beside me. It’s been such a wonderful, wonderful journey and I’m so very proud and honored to have shared it with him.”
Lynch established Eurogliders in Perth, Western Australia, in 1980, a breeding ground for alternative rock and post-punk sounds. The band achieved international recognition with 1984’s “Heaven,” from the album This Island. The song peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Chart and made an impact on the Billboard charts. It remains a classic even 40 years after its release.
Notably, “Heaven” is currently featured in a major real estate TV campaign in Australia. Music historian The Professor of Rock has also lauded the song as one of the most underrated gems of its era.
The band enjoyed a string of domestic hits, including 1985’s “We Will Together,” sung by Lynch, and 1986’s “Can’t Wait to See You,” before disbanding at the close of the decade.
Eurogliders reunited on several occasions, including in the mid-2000s for an album release and to perform on the Countdown Spectacular nostalgia tour, and again in 2023 for the Sunset Sounds beachside festival.
Lynch received a throat cancer diagnosis in 2024 and underwent successful treatment initially. However, the illness was later found to have spread, and his condition rapidly declined, according to Knight.
“Bernie was an incredibly kind and caring person and generous to a fault. He’d fuss about making sure the band were happy... He was funny and intelligent and engaging. If you weren’t well, or life had thrown you a curve ball, he’d be the first one on the phone to see how you were going,” she added.
And, of course, there’s the songs.
“Without Bernie’s songs, there would be no Eurogliders,” Knight explains. “Songs he wrote as a young man that are still being listened to... What a great legacy and such a fantastic contribution to the cultural landscape of this country.”
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