Stuart Anstis, the former guitarist of band Cradle of Filth, has passed away at the age of 48.
The guitarist's death, on Sunday August 21, was announced via his Facebook page the following day on Monday August 22. Stuart's cause of death was not disclosed.
The late musician's wife Antoinette wrote a heartbreaking tribute as she announced Stuart's death.
She wrote: "Stuart Anstis 2/5/1974 - 21/8/2022
"Rest in Peace, you were too beautiful for this world me Lover.
"Nothing will ever be the same again, Love Always and ever your Antoinette Until we meet again…"
Fans and followers reacted with shock in the comments of the post as they shared messages of condolence.
One wrote: "Sad news. See you on the other side Stuart Anstis. My condolences to the family."
Another added: "Gutted to hear this. Stuart was a big influence on me as a younger lad interested in music. The best guitarist I've known. Love to Gillian, Lou and the rest of the family x".
And a third added: "Omg, this is very sad news. RIP Stuart. You were a great man and musician, a great family man and one of the kindest generous people I knew. A massive loss. Gutted."
Meanwhile, Stuart's former band Cradle of Filth paid tribute in a tweet, which read: "It is with a deeply saddened heart that we have heard of the passing of our former guitarist, Stuart Anstis. Our thoughts go out to Stuart’s family and friends."
Fellow metal band My Dying Bride tweeted: "My Dying Bride would like to openly pay our respects to Stuart Anstis, as brief as our passings of him may have been, his all too early departure has left a mark on us all.
"Our respects to him and our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends far and wide. Rest in peace."
And Stuart's former bandmate Dani Filth, who is Cradle of Filth's singer, shared photos of Stuart while he was in the band on his Instagram page and penned in the caption: "It is with a deeply saddened heart that I have heard of the passing of my former guitarist Stuart Anstis at 48.
"Stuart -despite our eventual differences- was an amazingly talented guitarist who brought a real sense of magick to everything he wrote in Cradle Of Filth.
"For a long time he and I were bestest of friends living in a small village here in Suffolk and despite that relationship eventually changing, it did nothing to diminish the fan’s appreciation of his creative flair and talent right up to the present day."
He added: "‘Vempire’, “Dusk… and Her Embrace’ (though written mostly by former members, Stuart played all the guitars on this album), ‘Cruelty And The Beast’ and ‘From the Cradle To Enslave’ would have been completely different creatures if it were not for the depth of his astute and deliciously dark musicianship.
"It truly is with a heavy sense of loss that we (and extreme music in general) bid farewell to Stuart.
"May sombre flights of ravens wing you to your grave mate. Rest In Phallustein."
Stuart was part of Cradle of Filth from 1995 to 1999 and played guitar on multiple EPs and albums, including 1996’s V Empire or Dark Faerytales in Phallustein, 1998’s Cruelty and the Beast and 1999’s From the Cradle to Enslave.
