Former Motorhead Guitarist Wurzel Dies

Wurzel, former guitarist for legendary hard rockband Motorhead died on Saturday (9 July) at the age of 61.

The guitarist, whose real name was Michael Burston, joined the band in 1984 and first appeared on the band's 1986 album 'Orgasmatron'. He remained the band's main axe-wielder until 'Sacrifice' in 1995 when he left after recording the record, but before heading out on the road.

Burston gained his nickname during his time in the British army because of his supposed resemblance to the children's character Worzel Gummidge - a scarecrow with a turnip for a head.

Drummer Mikkey Dee has fond memories of his former bandmate. "He was wonderful," Mikkey said of Würzel. "He wrote lots of fucking great Motorhead riffs. I remember missing that when he was not in the band anymore. I missed the simple, classic Motorhead riffs. We never wrote those after that. They ended with him."

After Würzel quit Motorhead in 1995, his former bandmates kept in touch with the musician whom Mikkey described as a "family member" and "more rock and roll than all of us put together."

"He was wonderful, he was really funny," Mikkey said. "There was a lot of rock and roll in the old man."