Publicado
Mon, Feb 25, 2019, 08:07
- The British-born Australian lost his battle with cancer over the weekend.
Tony Pike has died.
Reports began emerging on social media over the weekend that the founder of Ibiza's storied Pikes Hotel had passed away following a battle with prostate and skin cancer. Back in July, 2018, Pike began raising money to pay for his treatment, stating he needed "dendritic cells therapy ASAP," but the campaign failed to reach its goal. Pike had sold the hotel to Ibiza Rocks in 2008, but said, "People think I am a multimillionaire because the hotel is sold. The opposite is true." He was 85 this year.
The British-born Australian purchased a derelict farm in San Antonio in the late '70s, which he converted into a hotel with his family. It soon became known as site for unhinged parties and a hangout for celebrities, especially after serving as the location for the music video of Wham's 1983 single "Club Tropicana." This lead to a close relationship with the music industry, culminating in Freddie Mercury's infamous 1987 birthday party. Pike recently published a memoir titled Mr Pikes: The Story Behind The Ibiza Legend.
Read Carlos Hawthorn's tribute to Tony Pike here.