Legendary Rock Band Bassist Dies at 71 Following Private Cancer Battle

Francis Buchholz, who spent two decades as the bass guitarist for the iconic German hard rock band Scorpions, passed away Thursday at the age of 71 following what his family called a "private battle with cancer."

Buchholz's wife Hella and his children announced the sad news in a social media post Friday morning.

Buchholz's family is 'shattered" following his passing

In a message shared on Facebook, Buchholz's family said the native of Hanover, Lower Saxony, West Germany "departed this world peacefully, surrounded by love."

"Our hearts are shattered. Throughout his fight with cancer, we stayed by his side, facing every challenge as a family - exactly the way he taught us," the family wrote.

Buchholz's loved ones also shared their appreciation for the performer's legions of fans worldwide.

"To his fans around the world - we want to thank you for your unwavering loyalty, your love, and the belief you placed in him throughout his incredible journey," they said. "You gave him the world, and he gave you his music in return. Though the strings have gone silent, his soul remains in every note he played and in every life he touched.

"With love and gratitude, Hella, Sebastian, Louisa and Marietta."

A career marked by decades of stage excellence

Buchholz joined Scorpions in 1973 and remained with the band until 1992. He was a part of 12 albums with the group, including 1979's breakthrough Lovedrive and 1990's Crazy World, his final project.

During his tenure with Scorpions, Buchholz contributed to the band's biggest hits, including 1984's "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Still Loving You" and 1990's power ballad "Wind of Change."

“Listening to other albums, I very much like Lovedrive,” Buchholz told Riff Raff Magazine in 1991, via Music Radar. “And Love at First Sting is a very good album, it's one of my favourite albums.

“When I'm at home, after a tour, I have one of those days where you think back over what you have done and you drink a bottle of red wine and get out all the old albums and sit there and listen to them until four o’clock in the morning and relive all those situations.”

After leaving Scorpions, Buchholz also had stints with Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock, Dreamtide and Phantom 5.