Y&T's Phil Kennemore Dies

Phil Kennemore, bassist with US hard rock band Y&T, has died aged 57.

Kennemore has played with Y&T since 1974 after being brought into the band by Dave Meniketti ahead of the release of their debut album.

He appeared on all of their albums, including the classic albums In Rock We Trust (which featured their biggest hit 'Summertime Girls') and Mean Streak, and the band’s most recent studio record Facemelter which was released last year.

Kennemore had been ill for a while, but this morning it seems that he had lost his fight with lung cancer.

The news was revealed on Y&T's official website by band mainstay Dave Meniketti:

"It is with profound sadness and disbelief that I tell you that my best buddy for 37 years passed away this morning, January 7, 2011 at 1am at Stanford Hospital. Bravely and steadfastly battling the horrible spectacle of lung cancer, at the end he was surrounded by his family members, and the Y&T family up until his final breath."

RIP Phil Kennemore, 1953-2011