Jeff LaBar, the guitarist best known for his work in the glam metal band Cinderella, has died at the age of 58. He died in his apartment in Nashville. LaBar’s publicist confirmed the news in a statement following an Instagram post by LaBar’s son, Tantric guitarist Sebastian LaBar.
“My father, my hero, my idol, passed away today,” the younger LaBar wrote. “I’m currently at a loss for words. I love you pop!”
The surviving members of Cinderella released a statement of their own, which you can see below:
Heavy hearts cannot begin to describe the feeling of losing our brother Jeff. The bond between us over decades of creating music and touring the world is something that we as a band uniquely shared. Those memories with Jeff will be forever alive in our hearts. It’s unimaginable that one of our band brothers has left us. We’re sending his wife Debinique, his son Sebastian, family, and friends our deepest condolences.
Jeff’s memory and music will be with us forever.
We all… band, family and management appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of love.
Rest In Peace Jeff-Tom, Eric & Fred
No cause of death has been released.
LaBar first joined Cinderella in 1985 following the departure of guitarist Michael Schermick. The band’s 1986 debut album, Night Songs, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and featured their first big single with “Nobody’s Fool,” plus “Shake Me” and “Somebody Save Me.” In 1988, the band released their follow-up, Long Cold Winter, the power ballad “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone),” which famously interpolates Joni Mitchell’s song “Big Yellow Taxi.”
LaBar released his solo album, One for the Road, in 2014. In the years after, LaBar opened up with his decades-long struggle with alcohol and substance abuse, suggesting his disease was the main reason for the band’s inactivity and eventual breakup in 2017.
In honor of the late hair-metal axman, enjoy this fan-crafted 13-minute compilation of LaBar shredding all over the world.
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