Former Scorpions bassist Francis Buchholz has died at 71 after a private battle with cancer, his family confirmed on Facebook. He passed peacefully on January 22, surrounded by loved ones.<\/p>\n
Buchholz, born February 19, 1953, in Germany, joined Scorpions in 1977 during the band\u2019s rise to fame. He played on iconic albums including Lovedrive<\/em>, Blackout<\/em>, Love at First Sting<\/em>, Savage Amusement<\/em>, and Crazy World<\/em>, contributing to hits like \u201cRock You Like a Hurricane,\u201d \u201cStill Loving You,\u201d and \u201cWind of Change.\u201d His melodic bass helped define the band\u2019s 1980s rock sound.<\/p>\n He left the band in 1992, citing internal tensions and a desire to focus on family after becoming a father. \u201cI was fed up with the music\u2026 I decided to focus on family life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n After Scorpions, Buchholz continued in music through songwriting and production and later collaborated with former drummer Herman Rarebell in Buchholz & Rarebell, blending classic hard rock with new material.<\/p>\n