Brett Tuggle dies at age 70: The keyboardist for Fleetwood Mac and The David Lee Roth Band passes away after battling cancer as Rick Springfield shares heartfelt tribute
- Keyboardist Brett Tuggle has died at the age of 70 after battling cancer
- He had toured for 20 years with iconic 1970s band Fleetwood Mac
- And he was one of the founding members of The David Lee Roth Band
- Tuggle also helped Roth write his 1988 hit song Just Like Paradise
Acclaimed keyboardist Brett Tuggle has died at the age of 70 after battling cancer.
He had toured for 20 years with Fleetwood Mac and was one of the founding members of The David Lee Roth Band. Tuggle also helped Roth write his top solo 1988 hit song Just Like Paradise.
Brett had worked with a wide range of artists including Rick Springfield, Jimmy Page, John Kay and Steppenwolf, Styx’s Tommy Shaw, and Mitch Ryder throughout his 50 year career.
‘Our sweet Brett Tuggle made it home tonight,’ friend Springfield wrote on Twitter as he shared a photo with the musician. ‘God bless his beautiful spirit.’
Gone much too soon: Acclaimed keyboardist Brett Tuggle has died at the age of 70 after battling cancer. Seen in 2019
Tribute: ‘Our sweet Brett Tuggle made it home tonight,’ friend Springfield wrote on Twitter as he shared a photo with the musician. ‘God bless his beautiful spirit’
Brett is survived by daughter Michelle and son Matt.
They shared with Rolling Stone that his family was ‘with him throughout the entire time of his illness.’
Matt added he had a ‘lovely’ father, adding, ‘He gave me music in my life.’
The star was born in Denver, Colorado and at a young age learned how to play the piano then the guitar. He took gigs at small venues in Denver before working in Texas.
Legendary: He had toured for 20 years with Fleetwood Mac and was one of the founding members of The David Lee Roth Band. Tuggle also helped Roth write his 1988 hit song Just Like Paradise. Seen in 2019
The lead: His partnership with Fleetwood Mac lasted until 2018 when he was asked to leave the band. Lead singer Nicks seen on June 19 in Tennessee
Drama: There was talk that Nicks wanted him out because he was too close to her ex Buckingham whom she had friction with
A no go after 20 years: ‘In the end, I think, Stevie thought I was more in Lindsey’s camp,’ he shared after leaving the band. (L-R) John McVie, Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac in 1975
In 1970 he toured with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. And in 1971 the star played guitar on the album Detroit.
In the 1980s he started working more with Springfield when his hit song Jessie’s Girl took off.
In the late 1980s he worked on Roth’s second album Skyscraper and his biggest hit as a solo artist, Just Like Paradise.
In the 1990s he collaborated with Jimmy Page and David Coverdale for their album.
He seemed to find his most lasting musical bond in 1997 when he started working with Fleetwood Mac’s band members Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie and Stevie Nicks.
Busy musician: Tuggle onstage during the Music Strong benefit concert at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in 2019 in Thousand Oaks, California
He took over McVie’s keyboard duties when she exited the band in 1998.
Together they revisited the band’s old classics Dreams, Gypsy and Go Your Own Way when on tour.
His partnership with Fleetwood Mac lasted until 2018 when he was asked to leave the band.
There was talk that Nicks wanted him out because he was too close to her ex Buckingham whom she had friction with.
‘In the end, I think, Stevie thought I was more in Lindsey’s camp,’ he shared with Rolling Stone after leaving the band. ‘But I tried to be Switzerland to all the principles in the Mac. I felt like that was my job.’
And he also said: ‘I care about them all. They’re all a big part of my life.’
A rock favorite: from left, Waddy Wachtel, Brett and Rick Rosas backstage at The Joint in Los Angeles in 2006