Hot Press is deeply saddened to learn of the death this morning of Aiden Lambert.

Aiden worked as a member of the staff at Hot Press during the 1980s, selling advertising. He subsequently moved to Phoenix Magazine. However, he is best known to people in the music industry through his role as manager of the successful Dublin outfit, Blink.

Formed in 1991, the band were fronted by Aiden’s brother Dermot Lambert, who was also their main songwriter. They were among the brightest Irish outfits of the 1990s. They signed to EMI Records and made an immediate impression with the singles ‘Going To Nepal’ and ‘Happy Day’, which made the Irish Top 20. Their debut album A Map of the Universe By Blink was released in 1994. It was followed by The End Is High (1998) and Deep Inside The Sound of Sadness (2004). They were guided impressively throughout by Aiden, who was a shrewd and well liked manager. Their ‘Best Of’ album Catch That Moment was released last year, with sleeve notes by Hot Press’ Olaf Tyaransen.

Aiden was based in New York for a number of years. For a period, he also managed Mark Geary, who was also based in the Big Apple.

Friends and family, including his son Danny, were aware for some time that Aiden was battling with a virulent form of cancer and that his time was limited – and the word had gone out on the industry grapevine in recent weeks that the final hour was approaching. Nonetheless, the news will come as a shock to many.

“We really enjoyed having Aiden as part of the Hot Press team,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. “It always was a pleasure working with him. He also played for Hot Press Munchengladbach and his association with the magazine continued afterwards through football – and of course music and friendship. He did a great job as manager of Blink. The band almost cracked it in America, which would have been fantastic for both him and his brother Dermot. Unfortunately it just wasn’t to be. But their three albums will always stand as a hugely significant contribution to the Irish rock canon, of which the Lambert family and indeed all of the members of the band can feel hugely proud.”

Pictured: Hot Press Munchengladbach in the 1980s . [Left To Right] Back Row: Ian McColl, Declan Lynch, George Byrne, Damien Corless, Paul O'Mahony, Emmett O'Reilly, Arthur Matthews and Aiden Lambert. Front Row: Jackie Hayden, Niall Stokes, Liam Mackey, Sean D Naylor and Conor O'Mahony.

2015 has been a shocking year for many people involved in music here in Ireland, with the deaths of Tony Fenton, former Hot Press and Evening Herald scribe George Byrne, former Stump man Mick Lynch and now Aiden Lambert making it a difficult 12 months indeed. May he rest in peace.