Fleetwood Mac keyboardist Brett Tuggle has died age 70.
The musician died on Sunday, July 19, his family confirmed.
The veteran rocker’s son, Matt Tuggle, confirmed the news to Rolling Stone, saying that his father had died due to complications caused by cancer.
Speaking to the outlet, Matt said: “He was loved by his family so much.”
Matt added: “His family was with him throughout the entire time of his illness. He was a lovely father. He gave me music in my life.”
Tuggle, who hailed from Denver, Colorado, learned about his love of playing the piano at a young age.
He played with Fleetwood Mac for two decades during thier reunion tour, from 1997 to 2017.
He first became associated with the group in 1992, when he worked at Mick Fleetwood’s side project The Zoo.
Before joining the band, he moved to Texas to pursue a career in music, but it wasn’t until 1981 that his talent became common knowledge, after he began sharing a stage with John Kay & Steppenwolf.
Across his career, he also played with Rick Springfield, Jimmy Page, David Coverdale, Styx’s Tommy Shaw, Mitch Ryder, and the Detroit Wheels.
Bassist Billy Sheehan paid tribute to Tuggle on Twitter, writing: “Brett Tuggle – truly the ‘secret weapon’ of the Eat ‘Em & Smile band and tour. Loved by everyone that ever met him, and gifted with supreme talent – Rest in Peace. We will never forget you.”
Springfield posted: “Our sweet Brett Tuggle made it home tonight. God bless his beautiful spirit.”
Last year, Fleetwood Mac’s singer and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham introduced Tuggle to the crowd at a Washington DC show, saying: “This guy is a master.”
He added: “He is a superb keyboardist, bassist, guitarist, singer. And he also brings so much clarity and integrity. There’s no way in the world we could do this [show] without him.
“We’ve never been able to do it without him, nor could we in the future. We love him to death.”
Tuggle was also a founding member of the David Lee Roth Band in the 1980s, and he co-wrote Roth’s 1988 hit song “Just Like Paradise”.
He is survived by his son Matt and daughter Michelle.
