Phil May death: The Kinks and Blur lead tributes to The Pretty Things frontman

Musician died after a cycling accident

Phil May performs with The Pretty Things in 2018 (Rex Features)

The Kinks and Blur guitarists have led tributes to The Pretty Things frontman Phil May, who has died aged 75 after a cycling accident.

A representative of the band confirmed the musician died on Friday morning (15 May) at hospital after suffering complications from emergency hip surgery.

The Pretty Things, formed by May and Dick Taylor in 1963, influenced artists such as David Bowie, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix with their music.

The band's best-known tracks include “Don't Bring Me Down” and “Rosalyn”, and they retired from touring in 2018 due to Taylor's failing health, with guests such as Van Morrison joining them on stage for their final performance at London's O2 Arena.

A statement posted on The Pretty Things website reads: “To those of us who knew him intimately, and loved him, personally, he was a remarkable, mercurial, influential and irreplaceable human being and the finest, most honourable human being I have ever known.

“He was funny, creative, quick, decent, insightful, hugely talented in so many ways, infuriating, direct, and unswervingly loyal, in an industry of frauds, and honest, painfully so. This Idol did not have feet of clay. His work across 55 years encompasses some of the true high points of rock music from its early R&B roots – right through to the present day.”

Musicians took to Twitter to remember May, with The Kinks guitarist Dave Davies writing: "Very sad news, he was a very talented guy and he will be sorely missed. I'm shocked.”

Blur guitarist Graham Coxon shared The Pretty Things track “Cries from the Midnight Circus”.

Read more tributes to May below.

The band’s last album, Sweet Pretty Things (Are in Bed Now, of Course...) came out in 2015.

May is survived by his son, Paris May, his daughter, Sorrel May, and his partner, Colin Graham.