Ron Peno

Ronald Stephen Peno (26 July 1955 – 11 August 2023), who also performed as Ron S. Peno and Ronnie Pop, was an Australian rock singer and songwriter who fronted Died Pretty from 1983 to 2021.

Prior to forming Died Pretty (1983-2002), Peno was founder and frontman of punk band The Hellcats (1976-1977), followed by hard rock band The 31st (1979-1981) and a brief stint with The Screaming Tribesmen (1981).

After settling in Melbourne in 2003, Peno formed the alt-country duo The Darling Downs with Kim Salmon. During this time he worked on several other collaborative projects including experimental electronica album Noises and Other Voices with Died Pretty guitarist Brett Myers; as well as writing and recording with Melbourne outfits Black Pony Express; Penny Ikinger; and Black Cab, before forming Ron S. Peno & The Superstitions.

Biography Ron S. Peno was born at Boggabri District Hospital on 26 July 1955 and grew up in Baan Baa, regional NSW. He attended secondary school in Narrabri where he made up a band name, Virgin Frogs, Peno explained his writing "['Igloo'] actually came from me reading Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis. It was me talking about an igloo being all white and positive, the Shoeshine Boys being negative. The black-and-white, positive-negative thing, you know. Optimism and pessimism. I dunno, one of those silly things I was going through when I was very young."

On 14 February 2019, it was announced that Peno had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and that all upcoming Died Pretty shows would be cancelled while he underwent immediate treatment. A further message on the band's Instagram page stated that he "stands strong to beat it."

In August 2019, Peno successfully completed chemotherapy, and the tumour in his oesophagus was surgically removed. Medical staff were confident that all the cancer had been removed from his body. In December, Died Pretty announced Australian concerts for April and May 2020.

After a five year battle, Peno succumbed to cancer on 11 August 2023, in the presence of his wife Charity and his son Zebadiah, at home in South Yarra, Melbourne. He was 68 years old.

Awards and nominations EG Awards / Music Victoria Awards The EG Awards (known as Music Victoria Awards since 2013) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006. 2012 Ron Peno Best Male