The passing of Angelo Bruschini, the guitarist for British band Massive Attack, at the age of 62 has been mourned by the band who described him as “brilliant and eccentric.”
Bruschini, who helped develop the Bristol trip-hop collective’s distinctive sound as well as playing guitar in the city’s art rock band The Blue Aeroplanes, revealed in the summer that he had cancer.
He expressed that he has been wished “good luck” twice by hospital specialists regarding his lung cancer. He believes that he is in a dire situation. Despite having a fulfilling life, traveling extensively and meeting amazing individuals, he feels that his time is running out. He plans on writing a book.
On the platform X (previously known as Twitter), Massive Attack expressed their admiration for someone’s exceptional and unconventional abilities. It is hard to measure the impact of your contribution to the Massive Attack body of work. We were fortunate to have shared a life with you.
A photo of the guitarist was shared on X and Instagram in black and white, accompanied by a statement expressing their heartbreak over the loss.
Jessica Merritt, the spouse of Bruschini, shared on social media: “I am devastated to share that my beloved husband, Angelo Bruschini, passed away on October 23, 2023 at 12:15am due to a rare and aggressive cancer known as pleomorphic carcinoma.”
She said he had been a “gentleman to the end” and would be remembered for his “madcap” sense of humour as well as his musicianship.
Bruschini played in the studio and on the road with Massive Attack. Among the tracks he will be remembered for is Angel, from the album Mezzanine, which is driven by, as one critic described it, by a “wall of guitars”.
On their Facebook page, The Blue Aeroplanes, who describe themselves as “Bristol’s longest-running band, an art-rock institution acknowledged as an influence on REM and Radiohead”, said: “We are devastated to announce the passing of our brother Angelo Bruschini. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. Rest In Peace Ange x”.
The band shared a photo of him performing on a bright day at the Bristol harbor.
Despite being diagnosed, Bruschini remains determined and has not only continued to pursue music, but also continued to criticize the Conservative government in recent months.
The loss of Bruschini is deeply felt in the close-knit music community of Bristol. His friends and supporters fondly recall him as not only a talented musician, but also a wonderful person.
According to Steve Poole, a history and heritage professor at UWE Bristol, the last time he saw him was in December while he was performing with the Aeroplanes. He was fully immersed in the music and enthusiastically getting audience members to join in on playing the chords to “Breaking in my Heart” on his guitar. It’s unfortunate that we won’t have the chance to see him again.
Suzanne Fitzgerald shared her experience of working with Angelo while he was under contract with Ensign Records. She had been impressed by his exceptional skills as a guitarist from watching him perform on numerous stages in Bristol during the mid-80s. He was a captivating performer both live and in the studio. Additionally, he was always pleasant and gifted to collaborate with.
Source: theguardian.com
