The music world is mourning the loss of a legend. Bernie Lynch, the celebrated songwriter and founding member of the Australian pop band Eurogliders, has died at the age of 72. Lynch died on March 12 in palliative care in Perth following a battle with cancer, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
As per News.com.au, the musician had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2024. Although early treatment appeared to be successful, the disease later spread throughout his body toward the end of 2025. He had hoped chemotherapy would help extend his life, but his health declined, and he was eventually unable to continue the treatment.
Following the news of his death, friends, fellow musicians, and longtime collaborators shared tributes honoring Lynch’s influence on Australian pop music and the lasting legacy he built with Eurogliders.
Grace Knight Shares Emotional Tribute to Her Bandmate and Former Husband
Grace Knight, the longtime frontwoman of Eurogliders and Lynch’s former wife in the 1980s, shared an emotional tribute honoring the musician’s life and legacy.
“I am heartbroken and don’t know how to proceed without him,” Knight wrote in a Facebook post.
Looking back on their decades-long friendship and creative partnership, Knight said their lives had been closely intertwined since the band’s early years.
“I arrived in Australia as a 21-year-old in 1977 and met Bernie not too long after; we’ve been in each other’s lives ever since. I can’t imagine what our lives would have looked like had we not crossed paths with each other. I don’t know how many shows Eurogliders have done over the years – it must be thousands, and for every single one of them, I’ve had Bernie there, standing beside me. It’s been such a wonderful, wonderful journey and I’m so very proud and honoured to have shared it with him.”
According to ABC.net, the two were together for six years before marrying in 1985. Although their marriage lasted just one year, their bond as friends and musical collaborators remained strong.
“My dear friend: we soared high, we grappled in the mud,” Knight wrote. “What an incredible life we shared. I feel immense gratitude. I can’t let you go; I won’t let you go. My heartfelt condolences go to his family, loved ones, and musical family … we’ll all miss him very much.”
The Songwriter Behind Eurogliders’ Biggest Hits
Lynch played a central role in shaping Eurogliders into one of Australia’s most recognizable pop acts of the 1980s. As the band’s primary songwriter, he created many of its most memorable tracks.
Among them was the group’s biggest hit, “Heaven (Must Be There),” which climbed to No. 2 on the Australian charts after its release in 1984. The song also found international success, reaching No. 21 on the U.S. Billboard charts, as per Radioinfo.
Lynch also wrote the band’s 1985 single “We Will Together,” which peaked at No. 7 in Australia and became another staple of the group’s catalog.
Knight later credited Lynch’s songwriting as the heart of Eurogliders’ success and everlasting appeal.
“Without Bernie’s songs, there would be no Eurogliders,” she wrote in her lengthy and tear-jerking tribute.
“Songs he wrote as a young man that are still being listened to; songs that 40 years later still get played on the radio, songs that people still sing along to at our shows. Songs that have brought so much joy to so many people. What a great legacy and such a fantastic contribution to the cultural landscape of this country.”
A Long Musical Journey With Eurogliders
Lynch formed Eurogliders in Perth in 1980 after earlier musical projects with bands including The Stockings and Living Single.
The group quickly became part of Australia’s emerging pop scene and built a loyal following.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that their debut album, “Pink Suit Blue Day,” was released in 1982 and earned a nomination for best new album at the Countdown Music Awards.
The band’s momentum continued after signing with CBS in 1983. Their next album, “This Island,” proved to be a major breakthrough, climbing to No. 4 in Australia and also reaching the U.S. charts.
Throughout the 1980s, Eurogliders continued releasing music, including albums such as “Absolutely” and “Groove.” Although the group eventually disbanded, their story did not end there.
The band reunited in the mid-2000s to release new material and perform on the Countdown Spectacular tour. Another reunion in the 2010s brought additional music, including their most recent album, “The Blue Kiss Project,” released in 2021.
Eurogliders continued performing live in recent years, with their final concert taking place in Newcastle late last year. The group had also been scheduled to perform at the Rock The Backyard festival in Penrith later this month.
Friends and collaborators say Lynch remained devoted to music and to the people around him throughout his life. Knight remembered him not only as a talented songwriter but also as someone who cared deeply for those in his circle.
“Bernie was an incredibly kind and caring person and generous to a fault,” she wrote.
“He’d fuss about making sure the band were happy and had after-show cheese and biscuits, and a refreshing beverage. He’d come to stay at my house and turn up with bags of food and take over the kitchen. He was funny and intelligent and engaging. If you weren’t well, or life had thrown you a curveball, he’d be the first one on the phone to see how you were going. He was a people person and loved a chat.”
Lynch leaves behind a lasting musical legacy, with songs that continue to resonate with fans decades after they were first written.
