“Andy was our brother: an incredible musician and a great person to be out on the road or out on the town with,” Cold Chisel wrote on social media.
“His valuable contribution onstage to songs like Rising Sun, Saturday Night and My Baby will be sorely missed.
“Our hearts break for his wife Lisa and his son Rudy.”
Barnes also honoured his buddy.
Jimmy Barnes described Andy Bickers as ‘funny, intelligent, and most importantly, he was a good man’.
“Andy also toured many times with me, playing soul and rock shows,” he said.
“We were friends not only because he was a great player but he was funny, intelligent, and most importantly, he was a good man.”
“Lots of love to Lisa and Rudy. You will be sadly missed, Andy x.”
Midnight Oil also posted to social media, talking about the “signature power and passion” of Bickers’ playing style.
“Vale much loved sax player for the Oils and so many other artists – Andy Bickers – who left us today after a long illness. Our thoughts are with his wife Lisa and son Rudy.”