German rock legend Francis Buchholz, best known as the bassist of the iconic band Scorpions, has passed away at the age of 71. The musician had been battling cancer in private before his passing.
Throughout his grueling fight with the disease, Buchholz's family stood by him, supporting him through every challenge. In a heartfelt announcement on social media, they paid tribute to their loved one, describing him as having "departed this world peacefully, surrounded by love." The family expressed gratitude to fans worldwide for their unwavering loyalty and support during his remarkable journey.
Buchholz's contribution to Scorpions' massive hits like "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Wind of Change" cannot be overstated. His low-end grooves provided the perfect balance in the band's signature sound, which blended power chords, cutting vocals, and an unmistakable accent. The result was a genre-defining rock sound that dominated the 80s metal scene.
From their platinum-selling album "Love at First Sting" to their double-platinum release "Crazy World," Scorpions continued to soar on international charts. Their 1988 tour of the Soviet Union marked a historic moment for the band, with them sharing the stage alongside Bon Jovi and Ozzy Osbourne in Moscow.
Although Buchholz left the band in 1992 due to a change in management and advisors, he maintained his commitment to music and even re-emerged as a touring musician. In the mid-2000s, he reunited with former Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth before later joining Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock.
A proud moment for Buchholz was reliving memories of the US Festival in 1983, an experience that showcased his skills and artistic vision on stage. "I listened to my bass lines and discovered, yes, I had played the bass lines exactly the way they should have been played," he reflected in a 2008 interview.
As Scorpions' legacy endures, Francis Buchholz's bass playing will forever be remembered as an integral part of their massive hits. His spirit lives on through every note he played and the countless lives he touched during his remarkable musical journey.
Throughout his grueling fight with the disease, Buchholz's family stood by him, supporting him through every challenge. In a heartfelt announcement on social media, they paid tribute to their loved one, describing him as having "departed this world peacefully, surrounded by love." The family expressed gratitude to fans worldwide for their unwavering loyalty and support during his remarkable journey.
Buchholz's contribution to Scorpions' massive hits like "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Wind of Change" cannot be overstated. His low-end grooves provided the perfect balance in the band's signature sound, which blended power chords, cutting vocals, and an unmistakable accent. The result was a genre-defining rock sound that dominated the 80s metal scene.
From their platinum-selling album "Love at First Sting" to their double-platinum release "Crazy World," Scorpions continued to soar on international charts. Their 1988 tour of the Soviet Union marked a historic moment for the band, with them sharing the stage alongside Bon Jovi and Ozzy Osbourne in Moscow.
Although Buchholz left the band in 1992 due to a change in management and advisors, he maintained his commitment to music and even re-emerged as a touring musician. In the mid-2000s, he reunited with former Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth before later joining Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock.
A proud moment for Buchholz was reliving memories of the US Festival in 1983, an experience that showcased his skills and artistic vision on stage. "I listened to my bass lines and discovered, yes, I had played the bass lines exactly the way they should have been played," he reflected in a 2008 interview.
As Scorpions' legacy endures, Francis Buchholz's bass playing will forever be remembered as an integral part of their massive hits. His spirit lives on through every note he played and the countless lives he touched during his remarkable musical journey.
he was such a huge influence on scorpions music... i mean who doesn't love "rock you like a hurricane" 
? he might be gone but his legacy lives on through those iconic bass lines 
and the countless fans like me who grew up listening to him play. RIP francis, your music will never fade away 
the way he blended power chords with his low-end grooves was pure magic... can only imagine how tough it must have been for him to fight cancer in private but his family's love and support got him through 
guess what's gonna happen now... all those old fans are gonna be reminiscing about him even more 
time to dust off those vinyl records and play some Scorpions classics 
"Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Wind of Change" are still bangers 
I loved how he stayed true to music even after leaving the band 
The way he relived memories of the US Festival in 1983 was so cool 
"I listened to my bass lines and discovered..." - what a humble guy 
His legacy lives on through his music, and we're all better for it 
I'm glad his family shared some of those personal stories on social media, it made the announcement feel more intimate. He might not have been as active in Scorpions since 1992 but he definitely left his mark on rock music 
Just heard about Francis Buchholz passing away at 71... what a legend 
I'm sad that we'll never get to hear him play live again, but his legacy lives on through all the hits they made together 
Those songs just bring back memories of summertime festivals and concerts. It's wild to think about how he was part of that era, meeting legends like Bon Jovi and Ozzy Osbourne on tour... it's really something special 
i wish more people could have been supportive of him during that tough time 
anyway, his contributions to scorpions and rock music as a whole cant be overstated 
his legacy will live on through his music 
... family said he died peaceful 
... fans worldwide supported him all thru 
... 80s metal scene dominated charts 
... platinum-selling album Love at First Sting was huge 
... 1988 tour in Soviet Union w/ Bon Jovi & Ozzy Osbourne in Moscow was historic 
... spirit lives thru his music and fans forever 
really surprised to hear about Francis Buchholz passing away at 71 