TRIBUTES have been paid to Gwent New Romantic icon Steve Strange after he died in Egypt yesterday.

The Newbridge born pop singer died of a heart attack in Egypt at the age of 55. His record label said Strange had been in Egypt to recuperate on holiday after being hospitalised at the end of last year in Bridgend, and had been spending time with former EastEnders star Danielle Westbrook.

But he lost consciousness last week, and was taken to hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, where he died.

He found fame in the 1980s as the frontman for Visage whose best known hit was Fade To Grey.

Oakdale hairdresser Dean Poole, 48, a friend of the singer, said: "We have been friends for years, and for quite a lot of years I was his hairdresser. Then he went off for his fame and fortune and we have different lifestyles, he was out doing what he does and I'm here doing what I do.

"But he would always call in here if he was back. If he came in here yesterday, for example, it would like we would have only seen each other hours ago.

"He was lovely, good as gold. He was very quiet and private person as far as I'm aware. I'm shocked and upset obviously. I was distraught last night, I knew he hadn't been well.

"My best memory of Steve is probably the first time I went to visit him in London, I was about 18 and I went with his sister to visit him. It was my first time to London and I was absolutely starstruck. And not so long back we went to a hairdressing show in Cardiff together."

Newport councillor Chris Evans, member for Rogerstone, said he saved up money to visit the Camden Palace in London which was club owned by Mr Strange.

He said: "I remember meeting him at Camden Palace, we were from the same part of the world and met through a mutual friend. I remember queuing for ages – it was a big deal if you got in to spend an evening there.”

"He was a great pop cultural figure. His music is from an era often smirked at akin to the glam rock of the 70's but it was a catalyst for social change. People had the confidence to do what they want and be what they want.

He added: “Steve was from a mining village. I was growing up when the mines were closing down, there was no work and Steve went out to do something else. Steve said I want to be this and this is what I'm going to be."

Marc Green, label manager at August Day Recordings, said Mr Strange had died at 11.15am local time at Sharm el-Sheikh International Hospital, Egypt.

He said: "Steve died in his sleep of heart failure. Steve's family, band members and friends are all distraught at this sudden news of his untimely death. Steve's family request privacy at this extremely difficult time."

The Mayor of Newport, Cllr Matthew Evans, has paid tribute on twitter.

He said: “Tragic loss of such a talented musician RIP.”

South Wales East AM Jocelyn Davies, from Newbridge, tweeted: "Heart broken to learn of the sad death of Steve Strange. He's been taking my breath away since I was 14."

Pete Bassett, the singer’s agent paid tribute to the singer, calling him "lovable" and "hardworking".

He said: "He will be remembered as a hard-working, very amusing and lovable individual who always was at the forefront of fashion trends.

"Up until last year he was putting together a book of fashion styles based on the New Romantic movement and it comes as a great shock.

He added:"We understood that he had certain health problems but nothing we knew was life threatening.

"His friends and family are totally shocked, we had no idea anything like this was likely to happen."

Tributes are coming in on Twitter, with Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon tweeting: "I'm very sad to announce that our friend Steve Strange has died in Egypt today. He was the leading edge of New Romantic. God Bless him."

Billy Idol wrote: "Very sad to hear of my friend Steve Strange passing, RIP mate."

Steve John Harrington was inspired by The Sex Pistols - whom he saw at their infamous picketed gig in Caerphilly Town Hall - to move to London.

The teenager was spotted by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren working in a nightclub cloakroom, and went on to become Steve Strange, and star in New Romantic band Visage with Rusty Egan.