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Deacon Blue keyboard player James Prime dies aged 64

Getty Images A man with grey hair wearing a dark suit and white shirt playing a keyboard with a microphone in front of himGetty Images
Deacon Blue keyboard player James Prime had been seriously ill for a short time

Deacon Blue's keyboard player James Prime has died from cancer aged 64.

Prime, from Kilmarnock, was a founding member of the band when it was formed in Glasgow by singer Ricky Ross in 1985.

In a statement on Instagram, the band said that "our brother, James Prime, passed away after a short struggle with cancer".

It added: "Thank you so much for the messages of support that you shared over the last two weeks, they meant so much to Jim, his family and us."

The band said last week that Prime, who was also a music lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, was "seriously ill" in intensive care.

But he gave them the go-ahead to continue with their scheduled tour later this year.

Getty Images James Prime, wearing a black waistcoat over a white shirt, is at a keyboard behind Ricky Ross who is singing into a microphone. He is wearing a dark jacketGetty Images
Prime and Ricky Ross were founding members of the band

Deacon Blue are one of Scotland's most successful bands with 12 UK top 40 singles - including the iconic anthem Dignity and number one Real Gone Kid - and two UK number 1 albums.

The other members are Lorraine McIntosh on vocals, Dougie Vipond on drums, Gregor Philp on guitar, and Lewis Gordon on bass.

In a post on X, Ricky Ross said: "We are broken-hearted. Can't reply to messages but we passed on the love so many of you shared".

A black and white photo of a Deacon Blue performance. Lorraine McIntosh and Ricky Ross are singing into a mics and there is also a guitarist and keyboard player in the picture.
Deacon Blue formed in Glasgow in the 1980s