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Former Scorpions bassist Francis Buchholz has died at the age of 71.
The late musician’s family announced the news in an emotional Facebook post on Friday. They revealed that Buchholz passed away on Thursday, Jan. 22, following a “private battle with cancer.”
“It is with overwhelming sadness and heavy hearts we share the news that our beloved Francis passed away yesterday after a private battle with cancer,” the “Still Loving You” rocker’s family began. “He departed this world peacefully, surrounded by love.”
“Our hearts are shattered,” they continued. “Throughout his fight with cancer, we stayed by his side, facing every challenge as a family — exactly the way he taught us.”
Buchholz’s family went on to thank the late bassist’s countless fans for their “unwavering loyalty,” “love” and “the belief you placed in him throughout his incredible journey.”
“You gave him the world, and he gave you his music in return,” they wrote. “Though the strings have gone silent, his soul remains in every note he played and in every life he touched.”
The touching statement was signed “with love and gratitude” by Buchholz’s wife, Hella, and their children Sebastian, Louisa and Marietta.
Born in Hanover, Germany, in 1954, Buchholz first discovered rock music at 11 and later joined a band as a bass player in high school at 15.
But it wasn’t until 1972 that the musician joined Dawn Road with Uli Jon Roth, Jürgen Rosenthal and Achim Kirschning.
The foursome, alongside new members Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker, went on to become Scorpions the following year.
Buchholz performed on 12 studio albums with the German hard rock band during his 18-year tenure with the group, including their debut record “Fly to the Rainbow” in 1974 through “Crazy World” in 1990.
The rocker’s iconic bass riffs were featured on the Scorpions hits “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” “Wind of Change,” “Big City Nights,” “No One Likes You” and more.
However, Buchholz abruptly left Scorpions in 1992. He later revealed that he departed the beloved rock group due to internal band turmoil, legal conflicts and a desire to spend more time with his family.
“I was fed up with the music,” he said during an interview in 2023. “I was fed up with being in the group with all this internal fighting and turmoil that was going on after spending so many years together.”
“So, at that time, I became a father of twin girls, and I already had a year and a half old child,” Buchholz continued. “So, I decided that was what I was going to focus on. I removed myself from the world of rock and into the world of family life.”
Buchholz ultimately reunited with Roth, now 71, for a tour throughout Europe and the US in 2005 and 2006.
The famed bassist also went on to join former Scorpions lead guitarist Michael Schenker for Michael Schenker Group and Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock. He played on Temple of Rock’s 2013 record “Bridge the Gap” and 2015’s “Spirit on a Mission.”
The Post has reached out to reps for the Scorpions and Schenker for comment.
“For me, it’s just playing onstage that I experience these moments,” Buchholz shared a few years before his death. “In fact, I had the moment earlier today, just playing bass onstage and having everything sound great.”
“Those are, for me, the most important moments,” he continued. “It doesn’t matter if it’s 100 or 100,000 people. I would rather play a great show to 100 people than a s—ty one to 10,000.”
English (US)