Lynyrd Skynyrd Star bassist Ean Evans has lost his battle with cancer, just four months after the rockers mourned the death of former keyboardist Billy Powell.
The star passed away on Wednesday at the age of 48, and announcing the news on their official website, the group says: "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Ean Evans, "Ean put up a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer and he will be sorely missed by family, friends and fans."
Ean was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and took a keen interest in music at the tender age of five by playing trumpet and having an orchestral background until his teen years.
Like most boys though, by the time he hit his teens, he picked up his first guitar and soon he was playing the southeastern rock circuit with various cover groups, until he decided to switch to playing bass a few years later.
He studied the styles and techniques of John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Geddy Lee (Rush) and Leon Wilkeson (Lynyrd Skynyrd) which, unsurprisingly, gave him an aggressive approach to the bass guitar.
His first original band Cupid's Arrow became quite popular in the Atlanta area, and after composing and recording over 50 songs, Ean became a full time studio musician and during this period, he was called to join the Outlaws by leader Hughie Thomasson, who showed him worldwide touring experience before he left to join Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2001.
Ean was called upon replace his friend, Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson, after he was found dead in his hotel room in July that year after suffering from chronic liver disease. It is the latest tragedy to hit the group - Powell suffered a suspected fatal heart attack in January.
He was made an official member of the band on August 11, 2001 in Las Vegas, Nevada and is survived by his wife Eva and their two daughters, Sydney and Andrea.
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