{"id":520589,"date":"2026-07-11T07:48:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T07:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/520589\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T07:48:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T07:48:17","slug":"cold-chisel-saxophonist-andy-bickers-dies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/520589\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold Chisel saxophonist Andy Bickers dies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cold Chisel<\/a> saxophonist Andy Bickers has died after a battle with cancer.<\/p>\n

The legendary Australian rock band<\/a> announced Bickers\u2019 death on Friday, describing the musician who spent more than three decades performing alongside them as \u201cour brother\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Cold Chisel has announced the death of longtime touring saxophonist Andy Bickers after a battle with cancer.\u00a0Robert Hambling via Instagram\/@coldchiselofficial<\/p>\n

\u201cOur much-loved sax player of more than 30 years, Andy Bickers, passed away this morning after a hard fought battle with cancer,\u201d the Instagram post<\/a> read. <\/p>\n

\u201cAndy was our brother: an incredible musician and a great person to be out on the road or out on the town with.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis valuable contribution onstage to songs like Rising Sun, Saturday Night and My Baby will be sorely missed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur hearts break for his wife Lisa and his son Rudy,\u201d the band concluded.<\/p>\n

Frontman Jimmy Barnes<\/a> also shared a heartfelt tribute, reflecting on the decades they spent touring together.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndy also toured many times with me, playing soul and rock shows,\u201d Barnes wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were friends not only because he was a great player, but he was funny, intelligent, and most importantly, he was a good man.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jimmy Barnes has paid tribute to his longtime friend, calling him \u201ca good man\u201d.\u00a0Robert Hambling via Instagram\/@coldchiselofficial<\/p>\n

\u201cLots of love to Lisa and Rudy. You will be sadly missed, Andy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Bickers fell in love with Aussie music after watching footage of the iconic Australian Made tour while at university.<\/p>\n

He moved first to Melbourne and later Sydney, where he worked on the live music circuit before receiving a call to join Barnes\u2019 touring band.<\/p>\n

That opportunity eventually led him to Cold Chisel, who he would perform on stage with for more than 30 years.<\/p>\n

Away from the band, Bickers spent time touring or recording with some of the biggest names in music, including Midnight Oil, Silverchair<\/a>, The Eagles, Don Henley, Diesel, Powderfinger<\/a>, You Am I, Pete Murray and Vika and Linda.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The New Zealand-born musician toured with Cold Chisel for decades after first joining Jimmy Barnes\u2019 touring band.\u00a0Robert Hambling via Instagram\/@coldchiselofficial<\/p>\n

Peter Garrett<\/a>, the lead singer of Midnight Oil<\/a>, also farewelled Bicker, writing, \u201cVale much loved sax player for the Oils and so many other artists – Andy Bickers – who left us today after a long illness.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur thoughts are with his wife Lisa and son Rudy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of Andy\u2019s final gigs was leading the brass section in the climax of this tribute to Rob Hirst at the 2026 APRA Awards, where he played with his signature power and passion,\u201d the post<\/a> concluded.<\/p>\n