Massive Attack Guitarist Angelo Bruschini Passes Away, Age 62

Massive Attack guitarist Angelo Bruschini has passed away at age 62, the band confirmed, after fighting a rare kind of lung cancer.

Bruschini joined the Bristol-based trip-hop pioneers in the mid-90s and subsequently toured with them until this year.

In addition to being a touring member of Massive Attack, Bruschini played the guitar on two of the band’s life-changing albums, 1998’s Mezzanine and 2003’s 100th Window. That was a busy time for the musician, with Bruschini producing Strangelove’s 1997 self-titled album and playing the guitar on Jane Taylor’s single Blowing This Candle Out.

As well as his work in Massive Attack, Bruschini was a member of the renowned Bristol act The Blue Aeroplanes and recorded over five albums with them, the most recent being last year’s Culture Gun. The band went on numerous headline tours and opened for R.E.M. and Siouxsie And The Banshees, and have been named an influence on Radiohead.

“RIP Angelo,” the band wrote on Twitter last night (24 October), confirming Bruschini’s passing. “A singularly brilliant & eccentric talent. Impossible to quantify your contribution to the Massive Attack canon. How lucky we were to share such a life together.”

News of the guitarist’s passing has been met with tributes throughout the music community, including the social media page of the television series Live From Abbey Road, which said, “So sorry to hear of Angelo's passing. His sublime performance with all the members of the band on our show remains one of our fondest memories.”

Roger Waters’ touring guitarist, Dave Kilminster, added, “I was at school with Angelo in the seventies… Thin Lizzy had just released their fifth album ‘Fighting’, and I remember we played the track ‘Suicide’ together… just messing around with the guitar harmonies.

“Unfortunately we were sort of ‘guitar rivals’ though, so we never stayed in touch… still shocking news though…” Musical group Unkle wrote, “Very sad to hear the news. I have so many fond memories of us hanging out together over the years. He will be greatly missed. RIP. Sending love”, and Young Fathers said, “RIP Ange” and sent love to the Massive Attack crew.

Bruschini addressed his lung cancer diagnosis in July via a public Facebook post.

“Twice now I have been told 'Good luck' by specialist's at the hospital over lung cancer, I think I'm fucked,” he wrote. “Had a great life, seen the world many many times, met lots of wonderful people, but the door is closing, think I will write a book.”

RIP Angelo 🤍
A singularly brilliant & eccentric talent. Impossible to quantify your contribution to the Massive Attack canon.
How lucky we were to share such a life together. pic.twitter.com/btSqYQnOoM

— Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) October 24, 2023