Phil Campbell, Motörhead guitarist, dies at 64
Phil Campbell, the guitarist who spent over three decades with Motörhead and shaped the band’s sound through its final era, has died at 64. He passed away on March 14, 2026, following a prolonged stay in intensive care after a major surgical procedure. The announcement was made by his band Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, joined in the statement by his sons Todd, Dane and Tyla.
The Welsh musician joined Motörhead in 1984 alongside guitarist Michael “Würzel” Burston. After Würzel’s departure in 1995, Campbell remained the band’s sole guitarist for its final two decades, appearing on 16 studio albums — from “Orgasmatron” (1986) to “Bad Magic” (2015). Following Lemmy Kilmister's death in December 2015 and the end of Motörhead, he formed Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons with his three sons, releasing four albums with the group, most recently “Kings of the Asylum” in 2023 on Nuclear Blast Records.
In February 2026, the Bastard Sons had cancelled planned shows in Australia and Europe on medical advice, without disclosing details at the time. Campbell’s death reveals the seriousness of the condition he had been battling.
His family’s statement described him as a devoted husband, a wonderful father and a proud grandfather known affectionately as “Bampi”, and asked for privacy during the difficult period ahead.
