Phil Campbell, Longtime Motörhead Guitarist, Dies at 64
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Phil Campbell, the longtime guitarist whose razor-sharp riffs helped drive Motörhead through more than three decades of thunderous rock, has died at 64. Campbell passed away March 13, 2026 following complications after surgery, according to a statement from his family.
Born May 7, 1961, in Pontypridd, South Wales, Campbell picked up the guitar as a kid and quickly developed a style rooted in hard rock and heavy blues. Before finding international fame, he cut his teeth in the U.K. metal scene with bands including Persian Risk.
His life changed in 1984 when he joined Motörhead alongside drummer Mikkey Dee, becoming part of the band’s classic late-era lineup with frontman Lemmy Kilmister. Campbell’s fierce but blues-informed playing powered albums including Orgasmatron, 1916, Inferno, and Bad Magic, helping Motörhead maintain its reputation as one of the loudest, toughest, and most uncompromising bands in rock.
Campbell remained with Motörhead until the end of the band in 2015 following Lemmy’s death, making him the group’s longest-serving guitarist and a central figure in its final three decades.
He kept moving forward after Motörhead’s final curtain, forming Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, a hard-driving outfit that included three of his sons. The band carried the same spirit that had defined his years with Motörhead: loud guitars, sharp riffs, and a deep respect for rock ’n’ roll’s raw power.
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