Motorhead. Ex Guitarist Wurzel died.

[Mr Blobby]

Motorhead legend Wurzel has died aged 61, the band has announced.

The guitarist, real name Michael Burston, died at the weekend from a heart attack.

Wurzel joined the heavy metal band in 1984 after playing in other bands and serving in the Army.

Born in Cheltenham, he earned his nickname during his time in the Army because of his West Country roots, scruffy appearance and likeness to TV scarecrow Worzel Gummidge.

At the insistence of Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister, Burston later added an umlaut to the 'U' in line with the spelling of the band's name.

Wurzel became the madcap court jester and counterfoil to Lemmy's sterner image.

He played on nine studio and live albums between 1984 and his departure in 1995.

"We are greatly saddened to confirm that our long-time friend and comrade Wurzel died Saturday at his home," the band said on its website.

"Wurz was pouring a Guinness and cracking a joke when he succumbed to a heart attack. At least we know he went with a smile."

Quite a nice way to go.

Born in 1949, his real name was Michael Burston, getting his distinctive nickname, Wurzel, in the army due to his scarecrow like appearance.

He had been a corporal in the Army, serving in Germany and Ireland with the 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, before playing in the bands ******* and Warfare. He went for an audition for Motorhead along with another unknown Phil Campbell and joined the iconic band making his debut on a 1984 edition of the Young Ones comedy show and was a key member of one of the finest british rock bands ever till he left in 1995.

He had been working on his band before the news that he had died of ventricular fibrillation, caused by cardiomyopathy