Monday, July 11, 2011

Rockobit: Wurzel (Michael Burston)

Würzel, who spent eleven years driving the Motorhead sound as guitarist, died on Saturday.

The news was announced to fans by Lemmy during the band's set at Sonisphere.

Born Michael Burston, his life was one of an army spell, building work and small pub bands until having the closest thing you can to a Walt Disney story when Lemmy is involved. He read that Motorhead had lost a guitarist, sent off a letter and tape (ask your parents, kids), and - at the age of thirty - found himself in a major band.

Burston stayed with the band from 1984 to 1995; he was unhappy after they'd relocated to America and quit shortly after Phil Taylor had given up drumming for the band.

He continued to play for a number of acts - The Guardian records a guest splot with Splodgenessabounds - but never really tried for a solo career.

Würzel died from ventricular fibrillation caused by heart disease; he was 61.


1 comment:

jim brock said...

RIP Michael........... god bless

Post a Comment

As a general rule, posts will only be deleted if they reek of spam.