Former Scorpions Bassist Francis Buchholz Dead at 71

The backbone to some of rock more enduring anthems passed away yesterday, as Francis Buchholz — long-time bassist for the Scorpions — succumbed to his ongoing battle with cancer. He was 71 years old.

HIs family took to social media to confirm Buchholz had passed away peacefully and that they were heartbroken he was no longer with them.

“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. He was a family man through and through, and our grief is beyond words.”

Now, for those of you who don’t recognize who Buchholz is, chances are you’ve heard his playing in iconic anthem rock tunes like “Rock You Like A Hurricane”, “Still Loving You”, and “Wind Of Change.” He was first featured on the band’s sophomore 1975 album Fly To The Rainbow until his final album with the band, which ended up being the 1990’s Crazy World. During that time, Scorpions went on to sell more than 100 million albums worldwide, earning a series of major accolades along the way.

In 1992, Buchholz opted to walk away form the band shortly after the birth of his twin daughters. He then went on to work as a music consultant before getting back on stage with bands like Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock, Dawn Road, Dreamtide, Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock, and Phantom V.

Buchholz’s contributions to the rock scene in the 80s can’t be understated. The Scorpions were a major force back then and Buchholz helped make that a possibility. He will be missed.

We at MetalSucks want to wish Buchholz’s loved ones and former bandmates nothing but the best during this trying time.