Phil Campbell, Guitarist of Motörhead, Passes Away at 64

On Friday, musician Phil Campbell, guitarist for the band Motorhead for over 30 years, passed away at the age of 64, following complications from a recent surgery. Campbell joined Motorhead in 1984 after the departure of guitarist Brian Robertson, becoming the longest-serving guitarist in the band's history. He debuted on their seventh album, 1986's Orgasmatron, and remained with the group for 31 years, contributing riffs to tracks such as "Deaf Forever," "Eat the Rich," and "Born to Raise Hell." He recorded 16 studio albums with Motorhead until the band dissolved following the death of frontman Lemmy Kilmister in 2015, as Mikkey Dee, the band's drummer, told the Swedish newspaper Expressen. In October 2019, Campbell released his first solo album, Old Lions Still Roar, which featured guest appearances from Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, and Alice Cooper. Before his death, Campbell had been touring and performing with his three sons in their band, Phil Campbell and The Bastard Sons. Earlier this year, citing medical advice, Phil Campbell and The Bastard Sons canceled their planned European tour, which had included dates scheduled through September.

Tributes Pour In for Phil Campbell, Legendary Motorhead Guitarist and Friend of Doro Pesch and Def Leppard's Phil Collen

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen, who knew Campbell from his early days in the band Animal with Pete Willis, shared condolences. Doro Pesch, a German heavy metal singer, shared that she was honored to call Campbell her friend. Motorhead, founded in 1975, influenced both 1970s and 1980s heavy metal, as well as the punk scene that emerged in England with the Sex Pistols in 1977. Lemmy Kilmister, the band's founder, bassist, composer, and vocalist, was known for his distinctive guttural voice, one of Motorhead's trademarks. Campbell's family asks for privacy during this difficult time. (Information from Folha de S.Paulo.)