Scouting For Girls Shocked By Sztumpf Death

The She's So Lovely hitmakers were mentored by the former Madness and The Smiths manager during their early career, and he was even godfather to frontman Roy Stride's young son.

They were stunned when he suffered a brain aneurysm and died suddenly in March (10), just days after they hit the top spot in the British charts - and they went on a huge booze binge to drown their sorrows.

Stride tells Britain's Daily Mirror, "Matthew Sztumpf, who had been our tour manager since the start and was very much our father figure, died very suddenly after a radio promo tour with us.

"He's my son's godfather so it was a really weird time. Alcohol-fuelled, but very emotional too. Something amazing and something horrendous happening at the same time. It certainly keeps you level headed."