Runrig rocker Bruce Guthro dies aged 62 after years-long battle with cancer

Canadian singer and songwriter Bruce Guthro has died. He was 62.

Guthro was best known as the lead singer of Scottish rock band Runrig, who announced his death on Wednesday, September 6.

"It is with the heaviest of hearts and profound sadness that we inform you of the news that Bruce passed away last night, having finally lost a long battle with cancer that has stretched back many years," the band announced in a statement.

"Everyone associated with Runrig is heart broken at the loss of a dear friend and such a special musical colleague."

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Runrig's former bandmate Peter Wishart also paid tribute to his friend.

"So, so sad to hear of the untimely death of my friend and former band mate Bruce Guthro," Wishart wrote on X.

"He was just the nicest person you could ever hope to meet and a joy to perform with," he continued, describing the late star as "an exceptional singer, musician and song writer taken far too soon.

"We are going to miss him. RIP."

In July, Guthro announced on social media that he had been battling health issues for a number of years and had been forced to cancel live performances.

Although Guthro made the decision to halt performing, the award-winning singer has an impressive career portfolio that stretches over 40 years.

Over the course of his career, the star wrote seven albums and won nine East Coast Music Awards.

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Guthro joined Runrig in 1998 after former lead Donnie Munro has left the band.

While speaking with BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme, Wishart recalled the group were losing hope of finding a replacement lead singer prior to Guthro auditioning.

"Bruce came in that day when Scotland were playing Brazil in the 1998 World Cup and we had half an eye on the football and half an eye on Bruce," he said.

"When Bruce sang we turned around almost with our jaws hitting the ground with the quality of Bruce's voice."

Guthro went on to perform with the popular Scottish band for two decades before the group went on hiatus in 2018.

The singer is survived by his wife, Kim Guthro, and two children, Jodi and Dylan Guthro.