
Former Motörhead guitarist Michael 'Würzel' Burston passed away yesterday, 9 July, at the age of 61. Several reports suggest that Burston died from ventricular fibrillation, which was triggered by cardiomyopathy.
The news was first reported on the Facebook page of Tim Butcher, the longtime bass tech forMotörhead leader Lemmy Kilmister. "RIP Würzel," Butcher wrote, adding, "Great guitarist and a complete gent... we will miss you..."
Prior to Motörhead, Burston served as a corporal in the British Army. He also played in the bands Bastard and Warfare. He performed with Motörhead from 1984 to 1995, appearing on the albums No Remorse, Orgasmatron, Rock 'N' Roll, March Ör Die, Bastards and Sacrifice.
Burston had played in several bands since parting ways with Motörhead. His most recent group, Leader Of Down, headlined the UK fundraiser 'Never Mind The Bullocks' in support of Midlands Air Ambulance last month.
Get the MusicRadar Newsletter
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.
![Chris Hayes [left] wears a purple checked shirt and plays his 1957 Stratocaster in the studio; Michael J. Fox tears it up onstage as Marty McFly in the 1985 blockbuster Back To The Future.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nWZUSbFAwA6EqQdruLmXXh-840-80.jpg)
“We’re looking at the movie going, ‘Urgh! It’s kinda cheesy. I don’t know if this is going to work”: How Chris Hayes wrote Huey Lewis and the News’ Back To The Future hit Power Of Love in his pyjamas

“I thought it’d be a big deal, but I was a bit taken aback by just how much of a big deal it was”: Noel Gallagher finally speaks about Oasis ticket chaos