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March 15, 2026 \u2014 10:33am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Motorhead\u2019s long-term guitarist Phil Campbell died on Saturday night, following complications from an operation.<\/p>\n Born in Pontypridd, Wales, the 64-year-old was the band\u2019s guitarist from 1984 to 2015, when it disbanded after the death of founder Lemmy Kilmister<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Philip Anthony Campbell, who passed away peacefully last night following a long and courageous battle in intensive care after a complex major operation,\u201d his family said in a statement on his band\u2019s Instagram page, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons.<\/p>\n The band, which featured Campbell and his three sons, was slated to play in Australia<\/a> later this year, but the tour was called off late last month due to his ill health.<\/p>\n Best known for their songs Ace of Spades, Overkill and Hellraiser, Motorhead released 23 albums over their 40-year career. The band\u2019s lineup changed over the years with Kilmister and Campbell as its main constants.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Kilmister also wrote songs for other artists, including Ozzy Osbourne on what would become his quadruple-platinum No More Tears LP in the early 90s. According to Rolling Stone, in addition to the Grammy-winning I Don\u2019t Want to Change the World, Kilmister helped write \u201cHellraiser, which the music magazine describes as \u201ca thumping declaration of rock & roll fury that took the singer all of 10 minutes to pen\u201d.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cIn Ozzy\u2019s hands, it\u2019s a soaring anthem (and an album highlight) but for Mot\u00f6rhead, who stuck it on their 1992 record March \u00f6r Die and in a Pinhead movie, it was a gritty, gremlin-like bar-rocker (in other words, the perfect Mot\u00f6rhead song). \u2018I don\u2019t know if Ozzy liked my version of the song,\u2019 Kilmister told Rolling Stone in 2015<\/a>. \u2018He never said.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Motorhead paid tribute to Campbell in a post shared to Instagram, describing him as a wonderful guitarist and \u201can enormous beam of light\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cPhil was a wonderful guitarist, writer, performer, and musician who had Motorhead in his veins.<\/p>\n \u201cHe always led with his gift of guitar, and carried a great sense of humour, but most of all, Phil led with his heart. You could not be around him without a chuckle or 20, because quite simply, Phil loved life and lived it with great joy.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be plenty of time for us to share stories \u2013 tales of Campbell glory \u2013 and some good jokes together; for now, please send love and positive energy to Gaynor and the boys while affording them time, space, and privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n The family statement paid tribute to the man behind the public spotlight. \u201cPhil was a devoted husband, a wonderful father, and a proud and loving grandfather, known affectionately as \u2018Bampi\u2019. He was deeply loved by all who knew him and will be missed immensely,\u201d it continued.<\/p>\n \u201cHis legacy, music and the memories he created with so many will live on forever.\u201d<\/p>\n Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Motorhead\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0ba1b58460a64638861b834c578e62f665c03906.jpeg\")
Motorhead\u2019s Phil \u201cWizzo\u201d Campbell performing in South Korea in 2015. Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3819efdc7ae80f615055996fd42b69fd072c6757.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Motorhead](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0f51358f7685c97339149c809f972ac4f3a32561.jpeg\")
Motorhead in Sydney in 1991.Palani Mohan\/Fairfax Media<\/p>\n