Dave Rosser, Guitarist for The Afghan Whigs, Dies at 50

After a long battle with inoperable colon cancer, guitarist Dave Rosser of the Afghan Whigs passed away last night at age 50.

Following a 16-year hiatus, the Afghan Whigs reformed in 2014 and released their album Do to the Beast with the new addition of Rosser in the lineup, who stayed with the group through the release of this year’s In Spades and had planned to join them for a few dates on the road during the album’s supporting tour, health permitting. The group is set to bring the tour to Union Transfer in September. Late October, the Whigs announced that Rosser was battling cancer and played two benefit shows in December to help lessen the guitarist’s medical bills.

Rosser also performed with the Twilight Singers and the Gutter Twins and worked with many other artists as a guitarist and composer over his career.

The band broke the sad news to their fans on Facebook earlier today:

Watch the Afghan Whigs performing live at NON-COMM 2014 at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.