guitarist: Last News

ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander has died at the age of 70 after a cancer diagnosis, his family has confirmed.

ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander has died at 70 years old, the musician's family announced. The Sweden native died on Friday, April 7 after a battle with cancer. Taking to Wellander's official Facebook page, his family wrote, «It is with indescribable sadness that we have to announce that our beloved Lasse has fallen asleep.

Kate Bush‘s ‘Wuthering Heights’, has died.The news of the 69-year-old’s death was announced on social media by his wife Leila on Saturday (April 8).Sharing a photo of the pair, she wrote on Instagram: “It is with deep sadness and regret that I let you know that my loving husband Ian Bairnson has passed away on Friday 7th April.“Ian was the sweetest, kindest, loving husband I could ever have wished for and I take comfort that he is resting now up there in his very own piece of ‘Blue Blue Sky’.”Revealing that her husband suffered a long battle with dementia, Leila continued: “Although Ian has left us, his musical legacy stays with us and will continue to delight and brighten our lives, as it did his, forever.“I would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Frimley Park Hospital, the managers and carers at Lynwood Care Home and our families and close friends for the love and support they have provided us during these challenging years of Ian’s long battle with dementia.”A post shared by Leila Bairnson (@leila_bairnson)Born on the Shetland Islands of Scotland, Bairnson moved to London in the early 1970s and was invited to join Cockney Rebel by Steve Harley, though instead opting to join the band Pilot from his homeland.The Scottish musician was a renowned session player, featuring as part of the Alan Parsons Project and working with the likes of Paul McCartney, Sting and Mick Fleetwood.His most iconic turn though came when he played the solo on Kate Bush’s huge 1978 single ‘Wuthering Heights’.Bairnson retired from performing live in 2018 and was battling dementia in his final years.

Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars has spoken out about his recent legal battle with the band, following the lawsuit he filed against them over his share of profits.In a new interview with Variety, Mars detailed his thoughts on the ongoing arbitration, as well as his feelings towards his ex-bandmates.“Those guys have been hammering on me since ’87, trying to replace me,” he said. “They haven’t been able to do that, because I’m the guitar player.

John Regan, a master bass player whose resume included stints with Peter Frampton, Ace Frehley, Billy Idol, the Rolling Stones, and David Bowie, died Friday at 71 in New York State. No cause was given.

Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars has filed a lawsuit against the band over his share of profits.Mars has alleged that he was “unilaterally” removed from the band after announcing his retirement from touring due to ongoing struggles with an arthritic disease called ankylosing spondylitis last October. As a result, he claims his profit share was cut from 25 per cent to five percent.According to legal papers filed in Los Angeles County’s Superior Court yesterday (April 6) Mars’ attorney, Edwin F.

Mick Mars countersued Mötley Crüe on Thursday and accused the band of forcing him to resign after he chose to stop touring. Mötley Crüe previously claimed that when Mars announced that he couldn't tour anymore, he was resigning from the band. However, Mars alleges that he told the band members that he could still play in a residency situation and could still record, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

The situation between Mötley Crüe and guitarist Mick Mars has turned litigious, with Mars suing his bandmates over his claims that he’s being forced out of the band.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Motley Crue has responded to Mick Mars’ lawsuit alleging that the band is trying to force him out after 41 years, with the group’s attorneys contending that Mars already is out — having resigned, effectively, in their view, when he announced he was halting touring for good. Motley Crue’s attorneys also provided Variety with signed declarations from seven members of the touring crew that was out with the band when they toured with Mars for the last time on 36 stadium dates in 2022, alleging that his performances at the shows were under par and created problems for the entire group. “After the last tour, Mick publicly resigned from Mötley Crüe,” said Sasha Frid, the band’s litigation attorney. “Despite the fact that the band did not owe Mick anything — and with Mick owing the band millions in advances that he did not pay back — the band offered Mick a generous compensation package to honor his career with the band.  Manipulated by his manager and lawyer, Mick refused and chose to file this ugly public lawsuit.”

Mötley Crüe has never been shy about sharing the dirt, but guitarist Mick Mars has revealed one big secret his bandmates may have wanted kept quiet.

Lynyrd Skynyrd have announced that they will continue as a band following the passing of founding member and guitarist Gary Rossington.His death was confirmed last month in a Facebook Post on the band’s official page. It read: “It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington”.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Mick Mars, Motley Crue’s guitarist of 41 years, has filed legal papers bringing deep and apparently hostile divisons between him and the other three members of the band out into the open. The suit only demands that the group hand over relevant documents about their businesses in advance of arbitration. But the wealth of details in Mars’ filing offers a provocative look at the tension between him and the others, in what he says has been a pattern of “gaslighting” in an attempt to kick him out of the group. The paperwork was filed in Los Angeles County’s Superior Court Thursday filed through Mars’ attorney, Edwin F. McPherson, and says the band has deliberately withheld information about the various Motley Crue businesses that he has a 25% ownership share in. Mars says the band has demanded he sign a severance agreement that would divest him of those and other future interests, in return for a 5% stake in the group’s 2023 tour, which is going on without him.

Keanu Reeves will be shifting gears to star in a new comedy alongside Jonah Hill, who will also be co-writing and directing.

Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer has claimed that the band were “doing cooler music” when he was in the line-up.Klinghoffer joined the Chilis in 2009 after serving as a touring member following the departure of guitarist John Frusciante. He recorded two albums with the group: ‘I’m With You’ (2011) and ‘The Getaway’ (2016).In 2019, Klinghoffer was asked to leave Red Hot Chili Peppers when Frusciante returned to the fold.

Looks like the twin flames haven’t burned out just yet!

Metallica frontman James Hetfield has announced details of a new book which is all about his guitar collection.The 400-page coffee table book, Messengers: The Guitars of James Hetfield, details the frontman’s entire collection of over 40-plus guitars, revealing “the story and significance of each within his life and career.”According to the book’s description, “Hetfield shares the emotional and technical elements of the chosen tools that have shaped his singular musical journey, including exotic instruments, vintage Gibsons, and custom one-offs. He also reveals many studio secrets, including the key amplifiers and gear that sculpt his tone and create his sound.”A post shared by Metallica (@metallica)The description goes on to add: “Each featured guitar is accompanied by lush museum-quality portraits by acclaimed photographer Scott Williamson, exhibiting intimate details one can only see if holding it in their own hands, alongside Hetfield’s deeply personal reminiscence.”Messengers: The Guitars of James Hetfield is set for release on October 17 via Simon & Schuster.Meanwhile, Metallica are set to release their upcoming 11th album ’72 Seasons’ on April 14 via Blackened Records.A post shared by Metallica (@metallica)Speaking about the inspiration behind the forthcoming new record’s name, Hetfield said: “72 seasons.

Ben & Jerry’s will be giving away unlimited free ice cream all day today to celebrate its birthday. The annual ‘free cone day’ happens every year, with the worldwide ice cream giant letting fans loose on their favourite flavours.

One of the founding members of ’90s band LFO, Brian “Brizz” Gillis, has passed away at age 47.

Wet Leg have died following illnesses.Miniature donkey Angelica, who has the same name as the fifth single released from their self-titled 2022 debut album, died on Saturday (March 25). And older donkey called Jill died on the same day.Last year, Wet Leg became the first celebrity ambassadors to the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary.The charity told BBC News that both animals had been “closely monitored for a while and both had various health issues that were causing concern”.Wet Leg, who are from the Isle of Wight, first adopted a donkey named Archie Baby from the sanctuary.

Tom Leadon, the guitarist who co-founded Mudcrutch with Tom Petty and Mike Campbell and was the brother of Eagles co-founder Bernie Leadon, has died. He was 70. He died March 22, but no other details were available.

Steel Panther vocalist Michael Starr has spoken about cancel culture in relation to the band’s music and shows in a new interview.Sitting down with Canada’s the Metal Voice, the vocalist explained that they haven’t had much pushback, adding that people who attend Steel Panther shows know what they’re getting into.“I think everyone is there for the same party,” he said. “So we really, really haven’t experienced any of that [cancel culture].