As reports state, Reg Presley dies age 71. The Troggs singer had been suffering with lung cancer for the past year.

As The Independent report, last January Presley made public his lung cancer diagnosis. "As you all know, I was taken ill whilst doing a gig in Germany in December. During my stay in hospital, tests showed that in fact I have lung cancer. I am receiving chemotherapy treatment and at the moment not feeling too bad," he wrote. "However I've had to call time on The Troggs and retire. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the cards and calls and for your love, loyalty and support over the years."

The Troggs are the band behind the success of the iconic song 'Wild Thing' which was a major hit both in the UK and US during the '60s. The band enjoyed repeated fame and success during the '90s when their song 'Love is All Around' was covered by Wet Wet Wet and Radiohead, the latter with whom they recorded an album. Presley and The Troggs continued gigging right up until the singer's diagnosis. Over the past two decades he has also been known for his interest in crop circles and UFOs. He has even published a book about them. 

Keith Althom, a fellow band member, spoke via Facebook of his loss: "He was one very real person in a sometimes very unreal world. Our thoughts are with his wife Brenda and the family and those legion of fans who loved his music and his band. I will miss him hugely."