‘Our brother’: Cold Chisel announces death of longtime band member

Cold Chisel saxophonist Andy Bickers has died after a battle with cancer.

The legendary Australian rock band announced Bickers’ death on Friday, describing the musician who spent more than three decades performing alongside them as “our brother”.

“Our much-loved sax player of more than 30 years, Andy Bickers, passed away this morning after a hard fought battle with cancer,” the Instagram post read.

“Andy was our brother: an incredible musician and a great person to be out on the road or out on the town with.

“His valuable contribution onstage to songs like Rising Sun, Saturday Night and My Baby will be sorely missed.

“Our hearts break for his wife Lisa and his son Rudy,” the band concluded.

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Frontman Jimmy Barnes also shared a heartfelt tribute, reflecting on the decades they spent touring together.

“Andy also toured many times with me, playing soul and rock shows,” Barnes wrote.

“We were friends not only because he was a great player, but he was funny, intelligent, and most importantly, he was a good man.

“Lots of love to Lisa and Rudy. You will be sadly missed, Andy,” he added.

Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Bickers fell in love with Aussie music after watching footage of the iconic Australian Made tour while at university.

He moved first to Melbourne and later Sydney, where he worked on the live music circuit before receiving a call to join Barnes’ touring band.

That opportunity eventually led him to Cold Chisel, who he would perform on stage with for more than 30 years.

Away from the band, Bickers spent time touring or recording with some of the biggest names in music, including Midnight Oil, Silverchair, The Eagles, Don Henley, Diesel, Powderfinger, You Am I, Pete Murray and Vika and Linda.

Peter Garrett, the lead singer of Midnight Oil, also farewelled Bicker, writing, “Vale much loved sax player for the Oils and so many other artists - Andy Bickers - who left us today after a long illness.

“Our thoughts are with his wife Lisa and son Rudy.

“One of Andy’s final gigs was leading the brass section in the climax of this tribute to Rob Hirst at the 2026 APRA Awards, where he played with his signature power and passion,” the post concluded.