Who was Brett Tuggle and what was his cause of death?
THE LEAD keyboardist for Fleetwood Mac, Brett Tuggle, is dead at 70 years old.
The renowned musician passed away on June 19, 2022, after his cancer diagnosis, his family reported.
Who is Brett Tuggle?
Brett Tuggle played with Fleetwood Mac for 20 years and co-wrote the hit song Just Like Paradise for David Lee Roth in 1988.
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Tuggle’s affinity for music began when he was only six years old and his mother brought home a piano.
He took classical lessons throughout his childhood and when he got older and started listening to The Beatles, something changed and music took on higher importance for Tuggle.
He bought a guitar and taught himself, learning to read music and chords by ear.
Tuggle started performing at local bars with various bands and had played Fleetwood Mac songs in their sets.
One night, Tuggle was performing in a band where Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, who lost one of their band members, were told by a member of their road crew they should hear Tuggle’s performance.
After hearing Tuggle perform, they asked him to join their tour, which took him to Vancouver, Canada.
In the 1980s, Tuggle played and toured with Rick Springfield and later auditioned to work with David Lee Roth after he and Van Halen went their separate ways.
He performed with Roth for several years and in 1992, he met Mick Fleetwood, and upon learning they were in need of a keyboard player, he reached out to ask for an audition.
“Getting to play with Fleetwood Mac in 1997 and doing the whole Dance record and video is still to this day, one of the highlights for me as far as a musical experience,” Tuggle wrote on Rock A Little in 2001.
“It was just a great time with the most amazing group of people I have ever met,” he added.
He went on to perform with Lindsey Buckingham who had left Fleetwood Mac and while on tour with her in 2021, she introduced him on stage and said, “This guy is just a master.”
She continued, “He is a superb keyboardist, bassist, guitarist, singer. And he also brings so much clarity and integrity. There’s no way in the world we could do this [show] without him.
“We’ve never been able to do it without him, nor could we in the future. We love him to death.”
What have people said about Brett Tuggle’s death?
His son, Matt, told Rolling Stone, “He was loved by his family so much. His family was with him throughout the entire time of his illness. He was a lovely father. He gave me music in my life.”
Other tributes from famed musicians have come out including Rick Springfield who tweeted, ” Our sweet Brett Tuggle made it home tonight. God bless his beautiful spirit.”
Tuggle is survived by his daughter Michelle and his son Matt.