Motorhead have confirmed former guitarist Wurzel's cause of death was a heart attack – but that he died with a smile on his face.
The ex-axeman, 61, passed away on Saturday after having lived with cardiomyopahty, a disease of the heart muscle, for a number of years.
The band say: "We are greatly saddened to confirm our long-time friend and comrade died at his home."
"
Wurz was pouring a Guinness and cracking a joke when he succumbed to a heart attack. At least we know he went with a smile."
"It's a cliche to say words can't describe how we feel – in this case, other than 'sh-t', 'awful' and 'very very sad' it's true."
"We all shared many, many great times together and what he did for Motorhead is quite simply indelible. As our good friend Steve Krusher Joule said: 'RIP dear Wurzel: a rocker and a gentleman'".
Drummer Mikkey Dee paid his own tribute at the weekend, saying the band had lost the ability to write "simple, classic" riffs when Wurzel left in 1995 after eleven years in the lineup.
Mainman Lemmy added his own personal comment last night, saying: "Wurzel was my friend and my brother."
"He's never going to laugh with me again or bitch me out – or do anything. And that truly and cosmically sucks."
"RIP Wurzel. Godspeed. Good man."
Thanks for the report to RockNewsDesk.com.
. RIP Wurzel 
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