Motorhead Dedicate Concert to Former Guitarist Wurzel

Motorhead paid tribute to former bandmate Michael "Wurzel" Burston, who passed away Saturday from heart disease at the age of 61, at their Sunday gig at the U.K.'s Sonisphere festival. Frontman Lemmy Kilmister told the crowd, "We'd like to dedicate this set and our lives to Wurzel.'

Drummer Mikkey Dee is also speaking out on the sudden death of his friend. "He was wonderful," Dee said of Wurzel, according to Blabbermouth. "He wrote lots of f--king great Motorhead riffs. I remember missing that when he was not in the band anymore. I missed the simple, classic Motorhead riffs. We never wrote those after that. They ended with him."

Dee learned of Wurzel's death after Kilmister found out the news through the band's attorney. Dee was hoping to see Wurzel at the band's Sonisphere gig, explaining that the guitarist usually joined Motorhead onstage for a song whenever they played England.

"I thought I would see him [Sunday]," remarked Dee. "He usually gets up on stage and does a song with us, but I guess he will not be showing up this time."

Wurzel played in Motorhead from 1984 to 1995. He was most recently a member of the band Leader of Down.

Watch a 1986 Interview with Motorhead's Wurzel