AC/DC guitarist Paul Matters has died, it has been announced.
His death was confirmed by friend Rod Wescombe in a statement posted to Facebook.
Wescombe said: “”Shocked and sad to hear of the passing of Paul Matters.
“I first met Paul in 1973 when he was playing bass in “Armageddon” at a gig in Hamilton, Newcastle N.S.W.
“When I was living in Toronto he would drop into the house in the late hours to party and he loved to party.
“In late ’75 after he departed AC/DC we played together in a one off band called ‘Miss Australia Band’ at a gig on a ferry on Lake Macquarie.”
“I moved to Sunshine on the lake further south and Paul would drop in to chill whenever he was in the area.
AC/DC star Paul Matters has died (Image: Twitter)
“I recall he could always make me laugh when he was in the mood.”
Matters joined AC/DC in 1975 after the rock band released their High Voltage album – replacing original bassist Larry Van Kriedt.
However, his time in the group was short lived after he was sacked by lead singer Bon Scott.
He was replaced by Mark Evans.
Paul Matters found fame in playing bass in AC/DC (Image: Facebook)
Despite leaving on rocky terms, Matters only gave one interview since he split with AC/DC.
Speaking in 2017 about leaving the band, Matters said: “Bon got out of the back of the truck and told me I wasn’t going back to Melbourne with them.
“We were up in Sydney doing a concert for school kids. So I didn’t play that day.”
He added in biography The Last Highway: The Untold Story of Bon Scott: “I just turned around and didn’t say a word to him. I turned around and walked out.”
AC/DC are set to release their new album Power Up next month.
The rockers say the record is a tribute to their late bandmate Malcolm Young.
Singer Brian Johnson, back after hearing problems, said: “Malcolm was always there… He was always there in your minds or just your thoughts.
“I still see him in my own way. I still think about him.
“And then in the studio when we’re doing it, you have to be careful when you look around because he seems to be there.”
Angus Young, 65, added: “This record is pretty much a dedication to Malcolm, my brother.
“It’s a tribute for him like Back in Black was a tribute to Bon Scott.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
