Phil Campbell, the longest-serving guitarist of MOTÖRHEAD, passed away on March 13, 2026, following complications from a major surgical procedure. He was 64. Born Philip Anthony Campbell on May 7, 1961, in Pontypridd, Wales, he joined MOTÖRHEAD in 1984 and remained with the band until their dissolution following Lemmy Kilmister's death in December 2015.
In 31 years with MOTÖRHEAD, Campbell appeared on 16 studio albums — from Orgasmatron (1986) through Bad Magic (2015) — and was instrumental in shaping the band's later sound. His playing combined ferocious aggression with melodic intelligence, and his contributions to tracks including "Deaf Forever," "Eat the Rich," "Born to Raise Hell," and "We Are Motörhead" helped define what heavy metal could be in an arena setting.
After MOTÖRHEAD's end, Campbell formed PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS with three of his sons, releasing a debut album in 2019 and touring extensively before health concerns curtailed the band's activities in late 2025. Earlier that year, Campbell had undergone a major operation from which he never recovered.
He is survived by his wife Gaynor and their sons. Tributes have poured in from across the global metal community. His place in the pantheon of heavy metal guitar is permanent and deserved.