Phil Campbell, the longest-serving guitarist in Motörhead history, has died at the age of 64. The news was announced on March 14 through the social media channels of his band Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, in a statement signed by his sons Todd, Dane, and Tyla.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Philip Anthony Campbell, who passed away peacefully last night following a long and courageous battle in intensive care after a complex major operation,” the statement read. “Phil was a devoted husband, a wonderful father, and a proud and loving grandfather, known affectionately as ‘Bampi.’ He was deeply loved by all who knew him and will be missed immensely. His legacy, music and the memories he created with so many will live on forever. We kindly ask that our family’s privacy is respected during this incredibly difficult time.”
His death comes weeks after the Bastard Sons cancelled their planned Australian and European tour dates in February, citing medical advice Campbell had received. At the time, the band reassured fans that his health was the priority. It would prove to be a final goodbye to the road.
How Phil Campbell Joined Motörhead
Born on May 7, 1961 in Pontypridd, Wales, Campbell picked up the guitar at age 10 and was performing semi-professionally by his early teens. He co-founded NWOBHM outfit Persian Risk in 1979 before his life changed in 1984, when he auditioned for Motörhead following the departure of Brian Robertson. Lemmy was so impressed by the chemistry between Campbell and fellow auditionee Michael “Würzel” Burston that he kept them both, turning Motörhead into a four-piece.
Campbell made his full studio debut on 1986’s Orgasmatron and went on to appear on 16 studio albums in total, including landmark records like 1916, Bastards, Inferno, and the band’s final album, Bad Magic in 2015. When Würzel departed in 1995, Campbell became Motörhead’s sole guitarist — a role he carried with distinction for the final two decades of the band’s existence.
His playing style — rooted in blues but hammered into something harder and rawer — became inseparable from Motörhead’s identity. He was there for the Grammy wins, the festival headliners, and the sold-out world tours. He was there until the very end.
Life After Lemmy and Motörhead
When Lemmy Kilmister passed away in December 2015, Motörhead disbanded and Campbell found himself at a crossroads. “For about four months I didn’t know what to do. I was so exhausted I considered retiring completely,” he told Classic Rock in 2023. Instead, a jam session at his son Todd’s 30th birthday party reignited the spark, and Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons was born.
The band — featuring all three of his sons — released a self-titled EP in 2016, followed by four studio albums including The Age of Absurdity (2018) and Kings of the Asylum (2023), the latter through Nuclear Blast Records. In 2019, Campbell also released his debut solo record, Old Lions Still Roar, featuring guest appearances from Rob Halford, Dee Snider, and Alice Cooper. He remained a working musician and a proud father to the end.
Phil Campbell’s Legacy
Phil Campbell leaves behind a body of work that spans four decades and helped shape the sound of heavy metal as we know it. He was not the frontman, not the founder — but he was the backbone, the riff machine, the guy who showed up every night and played like his life depended on it.
He is survived by his wife, his sons Todd, Dane, and Tyla, and his grandchildren.
The heavy metal world has lost another of its great ones. Turn it up loud today.
Our condolences go out to the Campbell family and all who loved him.
