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Flea, Tom Morello, More React to Andy Gill’s Death

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 02: Andy Gill of Gang Of Four performs at the Electric Ballroom during day two of The Camden Crawl on May 2, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Broussely/Redferns)

Gang of Four guitarist and co-founder Andy Gill sadly passed away after suffering from a “short respiratory illness,” and in the hours since the band announced his death, numerous musicians including Tom Morello, Flea, Lol Tolhurst, Gary Numan, Graham Coxon, and El-P have taken to social media to show their support for the musician.

“So sorry to hear of the passing of the great Andy Gill, guitarist of Gang of Four,” the Rage Against the Machine guitarist wrote on Instagram. “One of my principal influences on the instrument as his jagged page disco raptor attack industrial funk deconstructed guitar anti-hero sonics and fierce poetic radical intellect were formative for me. So glad I got to see him and revel in his incendiary art and wry wit several times over the past year. He was really, really fucking great.”

The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist also shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. “Andy Gill, one of my favorite guitar players of all time has left us. Go listen to the Gang of Four album Entertainment! right now,” he wrote. “Turn that shit up loud and rock the fuck out. Dance. Think.”

“Thats a record that changed my life forever, and was massively influential on my development as a musician, and showed me what a rock band could be,” his statement continues. “There is nothing else like it. It cut a fucking hole right the thick LA smog that I wanted to jump through.”

Gang of Four

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Cure drummer and keyboardist Lol Tolhurst took to Twitter for his memorial, reflected on growing up with the music of Gang of Four. “‘Damaged Goods’ will always remind me of being 19 and free,” he wrote. “Thank you for that.”

Read other tributes from Gary Numan, Graham Coxon, El-P, Colin Meloy, and more below.

 

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Andy Gill, one of my favorite guitar players of all time has left us. Go listen to the Gang of Four album ENTERTAINMENT right now. Turn that shit up loud and rock the fuck out. Dance. Think. Thats a record that changed my life forever, and was massively influential on my development as a musician, and showed me what a rock band could be. There is nothing else like it. It cut a fucking hole right the thick LA smog that I wanted to jump through. After not being in touch for many years, Andy and I had spoken recently, and communicated a lot of over the last several months. I am shocked. Andy was one of my heroes, a man who inspired the shit out of Hillel, Anthony and I as youngsters; I was thrilled beyond belief when he agreed to produce our first album. May his beautiful soul be in bliss with the divine, I love you Andy.

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