Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister, the charismatic frontman of heavy metal group Motörhead, has died of cancer, the band announced on Facebook. He was 70 years old.
“There is no easy way to say this…our mighty, noble friend Lemmy passed away today after a short battle with an extremely aggressive cancer,” the post reads.
The venerable singer and bassist celebrated his birthday Thursday; Lemmy found out about his cancer two days later, according to the Facebook post.
Lemmy was born Dec. 24, 1945 in Staffordshire, England.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Why Trump’s Message Worked on Latino Men
- What Trump’s Win Could Mean for Housing
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Sleep Doctors Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives
- Column: Let’s Bring Back Romance
- What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Contact us at letters@time.com