Jeff LaBar, guitarist for hard rock band Cinderella, dies aged 58
Jeff LaBar, the guitarist for the hugely popular 1980s hard rock band Cinderella, has died at the age of 58.
The musician was reportedly found dead on Wednesday inside his apartment in Nashville by his first wife Gaile LaBar-Bernhardt, who told TMZ no one had been able to reach him for several days.
No cause of death has been released, with his son Sebastian sharing the tragic news on social media, hailing his dad a "hero".
"So i just got the call... Jeff LaBar, my father, my hero, my idol, passed away today," he wrote.
"I'm currently at a loss for words. I love you pop! ... If you could, please share pictures or video of all the fun times we all had with my dad. It would be greatly appreciated."
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LaBar's former bandmates also issued a statement in his honour as they paid tribute to the "bond" they shared as a group.
"Heavy hearts cannot begin to describe the feeling of losing our brother Jeff," they shared with Rolling Stone Magazine.
"The bond between us over decades of creating music and touring the world is something that we as a band uniquely shared.
“Those memories with Jeff will be forever alive in our hearts. It’s unimaginable that one of our band brothers has left us.
"We’re sending his wife Debinique, his son Sebastian, family, and friends our deepest condolences.
“Jeff’s memory and music will be with us forever. We all… band, family and management appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of love. Rest In Peace Jeff.”
LaBar joined the band shortly before they signed with Mercury/Polygram Records, and he played on all four of their studio albums, including 1986 debut 'Night Songs'.
Their final studio album 'Still Climbing' dropped in 1994, but they continued to tour throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, before calling time on the group in 2017.
Keifer said at the time, "There's been a lot of issues over the course of decades and build-up that is beyond repair at this point. So there won't be any reunion."
LaBar also joined his bandmate Eric Brittingham in side project Naked Beggars - who released two LPs - and his own solo album 'One For The Road' came out in 2014.
Even after the group stopped recording in the mid-'90s, it also continued to tour on and off until as recently as 2015.
Among those posting tributes was Michael Sweet of Stryper who wrote: "I'm deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Jeff LaBar. I had the honour of meeting Jeff multiple times when he would attend our shows in Nashville, Tn. He was always a gentleman and very kind and complimentary.
"He was always very supportive of our band and I've always viewed him as a great guy with a big heart. May God bless you Jeff and may God bless the LaBar family, friends and fans worldwide. Godspeed my friend."
The Scorpions wrote in a statement: "Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends."
Additional reporting by Bang Showbiz.
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