LOS ANGELES, June 29 — Dave Rosser, guitarist for the Afghan Whigs, has died at the age of 50, following a battle with inoperable colon cancer.

The band confirmed Rosser’s passing via Facebook and posted: "It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our friend, brother and inspiration... Dave Rosser passed away peacefully last evening surrounded by love. Thank you to all who kept him in their hearts. He is forever in ours.”

While not a founding member of the band, Rosser joined the Afghan Whigs — following the band’s 16-year album hiatus — on their 2014 record Do to the Beast, after the departure of original guitarist Rick McCollum.

Additionally, Rosser had also collaborated with frontman Greg Dulli on his side projects The Gutter Twins and the Twilight Singers, and served as composer and guitarist on albums by Ani DiFranco, Joseph Arthur and Tim Heidecker.

The band had announced in October that Rosser was combating inoperable colon cancer, and has staged two benefit concerts with line-ups including Moby and Eagles of Death Metal in an effort to raise money for Rosser’s mounting medical bills (via RollingStone). — AFP-Relaxnews