Inxs star KIRK PENGILLY has paid tribute to Australian rocker JAMES FREUD, who died earlier this week (beg01Nov10).
The body of the 51-year-old singer/bass player was discovered by his family on Thursday morning (04Nov10). Police have confirmed his death is not suspicious and a statement from his Mushroom record label alleges the star "took his own life".
Pengilly was stunned to hear the news about his pal Freud, who fronted the band Models.
INXS toured with Freud's group in the 1980s, and Pengilly remembers his friend as "a beautiful guy" who he "will miss very much".
He says, "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.
"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."