Motörhead Guitarist Phil Campbell Dies at 64
Phil Campbell, the longest-serving member of Motörhead after the late Lemmy Kilmister, has died at the age of 64. The news was confirmed by his band, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, on March 14, 2026, stating he “passed away peacefully…following a long and courageous battle in intensive care after a complex major operation.”
A Legacy with Motörhead
Campbell joined Motörhead in 1984, becoming a pivotal part of the band’s sound for over three decades. He played on 16 of Motörhead’s studio albums, including Orgasmatron (1986), March or Die (1992), Motorizer (2008) and Aftershock (2013). His contributions include riffs on iconic songs such as “Deaf Forever,” “Eat the Rich,” and “Born to Raise Hell.”
The band disbanded in 2015 following the death of frontman Lemmy Kilmister. Campbell’s tenure with Motörhead was marked by a strong camaraderie and a dedication to creating music that resonated with the band members themselves, as he described in a 2020 interview with Guitar World. “We wrote the music for ourselves, we didn’t write for fans or record companies,” he said.
Early Life and Career
Born in Pontypridd, Wales, in 1961, Campbell began playing guitar at the age of ten, influenced by guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Todd Rundgren, and Jimmy Page. He met Lemmy Kilmister in 1973, forging a connection that would later define his musical career. Before joining Motörhead, Campbell was involved in several bands, including Persian Risk, which he founded in 1979.
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons
Following Motörhead’s dissolution, Campbell continued to pursue music with his own band, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, formed in 2016 with his sons Todd, Dane, and Tyla. The band released their album Kings of the Asylum in 2023. A planned tour for 2026 was cancelled in February due to Campbell’s health.
Tributes from the Music Community
Tributes have poured in from fellow musicians, including Dee Snider, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, and Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee. Dee described Campbell as “the funniest guy I have ever known and the best rock guitar player I have ever played with,” adding that his “vibe and feel for rock music were outstanding.”
Motörhead’s social media statement described Campbell as a musician who “had Motörhead in his veins” and who “loved life and lived it with great joy.”
Campbell is survived by his wife, Gaynor, and his sons.