Former MOTORHEAD guitarist passes away...

[Fat Freddy]

From Blabbermouth:

 

Former MOTÖRHEAD Guitarist WÜRZEL Reportedly Dead At 61 - July 9, 2011

 

According to a posting on the Facebook page of Tim Butcher, MOTÖRHEAD leader Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister's longtime bass tech and "right-hand man," former MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Michael "Würzel" Burston died earlier today (Saturday, July 9). He was 61 years old.

 

Before joining MOTÖRHEAD in 1984, Burston had been a corporal in the Army, serving in Germany and Ireland with the 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, and had played in the bands BASTARD and WARFARE. Joining another relatively unknown guitarist, Phil Campbell, they played together at a MOTÖRHEAD audition, and both were taken on.

 

Burston acquired the nickname Würzel while in the Army, being compared to the character Worzel Gummidge due to his scarecrow-style hair and bumpkin-like manner. Lemmy reportedly demanded that Würzel add an umlaut to the "U" in his name, for "heavy metal effect."

Würzel can be heard on the following MOTÖRHEAD albums:

 

* No Remorse (1984)

* Orgasmatron (1986)

* Rock 'n' Roll (1987)

* Nö Sleep at All (1988)

* The Birthday Party (1990)

* 1916 (1991)

* March ör Die (1992)

* Bastards (1993)

* Sacrifice (1995)

 

Würzel left MOTÖRHEAD in 1995.

 

For the past couple of years, Burston has played with a new band called LEADER OF DOWN, which last month headlined the main stage at the U.K. fundraising music festival "Never Mind The Bullocks" in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV6noHEd6XE

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3kIBBen62s

[Captain Howdy]

This is what Krusher Joule had to say on his Facebook:

 

Thank you all for your messages regarding Wurzel.

A very, very sad loss of a very, very dear friend.

In some ways I'm thankful because it was so hard to see him suffering for so long.

But I can tell you that in true Wurzel style that he passed away quickly and peacefully whilst pouring himself a pint. And that's the honest truth.

RIP dear Wurzel, a rocker and a gentleman.

[RichieZ]

R.I.P. Wurzel, thanks for the great music over the years.

[cdjunky41]

R.I.P. Wurzel!!

[fireforce]

R.I.P. Würzel!!!

[Nick C]

R.I.P. Wurzel - a guy who always looked the part, a proper rocker!

[Jez]

A Motorhead legend - R.I.P Wurzel