45 years after it was first created, The Troggs “Wild Thing” record remains a classic that made front-man Reg Presley an international sensation. Presley golden pipes drove the raunchy, sexy song home, telling a story of teenage lust.

Presley died on Monday after battling lung cancer for over a year, forcing him and The Troggs into an early retirement. His agent and friend Keith Altham broke the news via Facebook on Monday night. Presley was 71. “My dear old pal Reg Presley of The Troggs died today,” Altham said, calling Presley “one very real person in a sometimes very unreal world.” He said Presley suffered a number of strokes recently and died at his home in Andover (70 miles west of London) surrounded by his close family and friends.

The Troggs gained fame in America after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones paved the way for them, ushering in a simple, hard rock approach to wooing the ladies, a complete 180 degrees from what their British counterparts were doing. “Wild Thing,” written by American songwriter Chip Taylor, was originally recorded by Jordan Christopher & The Wild Ones in 1965, and quickly forgotten. It took the Troggs’ cover a year later to make it a classic.

Presley officially announced his retirement in January, 2012, thanking fans in a open letter for all their support. He was receiving chemotherapy during that time and not feeling “too bad.”

I.M.

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