ON stage and in front of the camera, former Models frontman James Freud was the quintessential rock star, all confidence and charisma.
But when the lights dimmed, the man whose songs soundtracked the excessive '80s era battled the demon of alcoholism.
After several years of sobriety, he succumbed to his disease and ended his life in his Melbourne home yesterday.
It was just a week after Models were inducted to the ARIA Hall Of Fame at the Hordern Pavilion, where Freud's bandmates played in celebration of a career that included such seminal hits as Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight, Barbados and Evolution.
Freud did not attend, citing commitments to Attack Of The Mannequins, the emerging rock band formed by his sons Jackson and Harrison.
Sean Kelly, who he grew up with and played alongside in several bands before Models, told the crowd Freud had "another bicycle accident".
INXS's Kirk Pengilly and his bandmates were "shellshocked" by the news of Freud's death. The bands toured together through the 1980s.
"He was a big pop star in his own right and then got a second breath of success with Models, which is a true mark of his talent," Pengilly said yesterday.
"For someone to have a big solo career, join an established band and bring that band to a higher level shows how good he was.
"And he was just a beautiful guy. We will miss him very much."
Freud chronicled his rock 'n' roll life, his battles with addiction and his recovery in two autobiographies - 2002's I Am The Voice Left From Drinking and the sequel I Am The Voice Left From Rehab, released in 2007.
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Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski also paid tribute to the songwriter yesterday.
"James was a true pioneer - he successfully crossed over from Australia's burgeoning punk scene in the early 80s to then create some of the most played tracks in Australia's recording history," Gudinski said.
"He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, the industry, and music fans everywhere."
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