What Happened to Anthony John "Tony" Thorpe?

Anthony John "Tony" Thorpe, born on July 20, 1945, in London, established himself as a versatile musician from a young age, starting guitar and drums at 11 and turning professional at 16. His early career included playing with rock-and-roll singer Wee Willie Harris and working with the Coventry Theatre Orchestra, accompanying stars like Cilla Black and Jimmy Tarbuck.

Thorpe rose to prominence in 1974 when he joined The Rubettes, a glam-rock band distinctive for their white suits and cloth caps. The band achieved immediate success with their debut single, "Sugar Baby Love," which topped the UK charts for four weeks and reached number 37 in the US. While he didn't play on the original recording of "Sugar Baby Love," Thorpe was a multi-instrumentalist within the band, contributing guitar, bass, piano, and drums on various tracks. His lead vocals on the 1977 country-rock ballad "Baby I Know" propelled it to number 10 in both the UK and Germany, marking it as one of his most significant contributions.

By 1979, Thorpe's creative vision diverged from The Rubettes' glam image, leading to his departure after disagreements over musical direction, particularly his desire to incorporate more country rock and remove the band's signature vocal harmonies from his compositions. Following his exit, Thorpe released a country music album, "Tone Control." He later found renewed chart success as a vocalist for the novelty group The Firm, singing on the 1982 Top 20 hit "Arthur Daley E's Alright" and contributing to the 1987 UK number one single "Star Trekkin'."

Beyond his performing career, Thorpe explored other avenues. He released a second solo album, "Illusions & Dangerous Prayer," in 1997, and in 2012, digitally released the "No Hits, No Jazz Collection." He also worked as a journalist and served as a music tutor at Burnley College until 2011 and Blackburn College until 2012. In 2014, he published his memoir, "A Bride's Nightie," chronicling his experiences in the music industry.

In his later years, Thorpe was a semi-retired musician living in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, continuing to play guitar daily and occasionally performing locally. He was married to Sylvia, who passed away in 2013, and later to Shirle, and had a son named Clayton. Tony Thorpe passed away on July 18, 2026, at the age of 80, after a period of declining health, just shy of his 81st birthday. Tributes from former bandmates, including Alan Williams, acknowledged his musical brilliance and enduring legacy.