The guitarist for the Irish traditional rock band Horslips, Johnny Fean, has passed away, the band has announced. Friday morning, he passed away at his residence in Shannon, County Clare, at the age of seventy-one.
In a statement, the band eulogized Fean, stating that he would be “greatly missed.”
“For well over 50 years, Johnny was our best friend, our creative collaborator, and our guitar hero,” his bandmates said.
Johnny was not only one of the finest guitarists of all time but also the most amiable man in rock and roll.
Horslips rose to prominence in the 1970s by fusing rock music with Irish traditional melodies, some of which were inspired by Celtic folklore.
The lyrics of their most popular composition, Dearg Doom, were inspired by the legendary Irish warrior C Chulainn, also known as the Hound of Ulster.
Famously, Dearg Doom was sampled for the Irish number-one single Put ‘Em Under Pressure, the official anthem of the Republic of Ireland football team during the 1990 World Cup.
Catherine Martin, the Irish minister for culture, paid tribute to Fean on Twitter, writing that she was “very sorry to hear the sad news.”
“His guitar playing was essential to Horslips’ innovative trad-infused rock music, which is still so widely adored,” she said.
The National Concert Hall of Ireland tweeted that Fean’s “contributions to Irish music will be remembered and celebrated for a very long time.”
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