Massive Attack guitarist Angelo Bruschini dies aged 62 following 'rare and aggressive' cancer diagnosis

Massive Attack guitarist Angelo Bruschini has died, the British trip-hop collective has confirmed. He was 62.

Bruschini, who was a driving force in developing the Bristol-originated group's unique sound and also the guitarist for art rock band The Blue Aeroplanes, revealed earlier this year he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

He wrote at the time: "Twice now I have been told 'good luck' by specialists at the hospital over lung cancer, I think I'm f---ed!"

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Bruschini continued, "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."

Massive Attack led tributes to Bruschini with an emotional statement shared to their official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, which confirmed the news to fans.

"RIP Angelo 🤍," the statement reads. "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."

"Devastated," the group wrote on Instagram.

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Bruschini's wife Jessica Merritt also took to social media to pay tribute to her husband, writing on Facebook: "I am very sad to announce that my beautiful husband, Angelo Bruschini, died on 23 October 2023 at 12.15am. It was from a rare and aggressive cancer – pleomorphic carcinoma."

Merritt said Bruschini had remained a "gentleman to the end" and his legacy would not only be his musicianship – Massive Attack's hit Angel, off the album Mezzanine, was driven by guitar tracks – but also his "madcap" sense of humour.

The Blue Aeroplanes, meanwhile, wrote of Bruschini on Facebook: "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".