PUNK PIONEER DEVILLE DIES AT 58

Rock pioneer WILLY DEVILLE has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 58.

The Oscar-nominated singer/songwriter, the founder of punk group Mink DeVille, passed away at New York’s Cabrini Hospital on Thursday (06Aug09).

Confirming the sad news, his publicist Carol Kaye says, “The rock world has lost another one of its influential pioneers.”

The Stamford, Connecticut native rose to fame as the man behind Mink DeVille’s hits in the 1970s after performing at the legendary CBGB club in Manhattan.

The band scored their breakthrough in 1977 with the rock and blues album Cabretta, which spawned chart hit Spanish Stroll.

DeVille embarked on a solo career in 1980 and enjoyed success with his Edith Piaf-inspired album Le Chat Bleu and its tracks This Must Be the Night and Just to Walk That Little Girl Home.

His song Storybook Love won him recognition from the Academy Awards after it was featured in 1987 movie The Princess Bride.

DeVille spent the last few years of his life touring, but he faced a number of health setbacks this year after being diagnosed with Hepatitis C in February (09).

In June (09), while in hospital to treat the liver infection, doctors found cancerous cells in his pancreas.

DeVille is survived by his third wife Nina and a grown-up son from his first marriage.