German rock legend Francis Buchholz, bassist for Scorpions' iconic hits "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Wind of Change", has passed away at the age of 71, succumbing to cancer. The musician's family confirmed his passing in a heartfelt social media post.
Throughout his courageous battle with cancer, Buchholz's loved ones stood by him, facing each challenge as a family – exactly the way he had taught them. As the band's business manager, Buchholz played a pivotal role in Scorpions' success, but ultimately decided to step away from the group in 1992 due to management turnover and personal disagreements.
Buchholz's low-end thunder supported Scorpions' most successful hits, including "Rock You Like a Hurricane", which remains one of the band's biggest assets. His tasteful playing complemented the hard-rocking anthems "No One Like You" and "Blackout", while his understated approach allowed "Wind of Change" to soar to chart-topping success.
Born on January 19, 1950, in Hanover, West Germany, Buchholz joined Scorpions in the late 1970s. Before joining the band, he studied lighting and engineering at Hannover University and co-founded a company providing backlines to bands, including Scorpions.
Scorpions' massive success throughout the 1980s cemented their position as heavy-metal giants. The group's unique blend of power chords, frontman Klaus Meine's distinctive vocals, ear-turning accents, and Buchholz's rock-solid rhythms propelled them to international stardom.
Buchholz left an indelible mark on Scorpions' sound, but his exit from the band marked a turning point in their career. The group continued to tour and release music with new members, including Uli Jon Roth and Michael Schenker, who later formed their own bands.
In a 2008 interview, Buchholz expressed pride in helping bring Scorpions from obscurity to international stages. He recalled the band's 1983 performance at the US Festival decades later, saying he had played his bass lines perfectly and that watching it on TV was a proud moment for him after all those years.
Despite his untimely passing, Francis Buchholz's legacy will live on through Scorpions' timeless hits and the countless fans whose lives he touched.
Throughout his courageous battle with cancer, Buchholz's loved ones stood by him, facing each challenge as a family – exactly the way he had taught them. As the band's business manager, Buchholz played a pivotal role in Scorpions' success, but ultimately decided to step away from the group in 1992 due to management turnover and personal disagreements.
Buchholz's low-end thunder supported Scorpions' most successful hits, including "Rock You Like a Hurricane", which remains one of the band's biggest assets. His tasteful playing complemented the hard-rocking anthems "No One Like You" and "Blackout", while his understated approach allowed "Wind of Change" to soar to chart-topping success.
Born on January 19, 1950, in Hanover, West Germany, Buchholz joined Scorpions in the late 1970s. Before joining the band, he studied lighting and engineering at Hannover University and co-founded a company providing backlines to bands, including Scorpions.
Scorpions' massive success throughout the 1980s cemented their position as heavy-metal giants. The group's unique blend of power chords, frontman Klaus Meine's distinctive vocals, ear-turning accents, and Buchholz's rock-solid rhythms propelled them to international stardom.
Buchholz left an indelible mark on Scorpions' sound, but his exit from the band marked a turning point in their career. The group continued to tour and release music with new members, including Uli Jon Roth and Michael Schenker, who later formed their own bands.
In a 2008 interview, Buchholz expressed pride in helping bring Scorpions from obscurity to international stages. He recalled the band's 1983 performance at the US Festival decades later, saying he had played his bass lines perfectly and that watching it on TV was a proud moment for him after all those years.
Despite his untimely passing, Francis Buchholz's legacy will live on through Scorpions' timeless hits and the countless fans whose lives he touched.
just heard about Francis Buchholz 
scorpions bassist passing away at 71. dude was a legend 
his playing was so underrated, he brought that low-end thunder to those iconic songs like "Rock You Like a Hurricane" & "Wind of Change". what can you say? a true rock god 
he may be gone but his music lives on 
. He was a true rock legend 
and his contributions to Scorpions' sound are still felt today 
He played such an important role in shaping the band's iconic hits like "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Wind of Change". Those songs are just so catchy and energetic - it's no wonder they're still popular today 
. Anyway, my thoughts are with Francis Buchholz's family during this tough time 
he was an iconic part of Scorpions' history & sound 
his contributions to their massive success can never be forgotten 
as a fan, it's sad to see him go but his legacy lives on through those epic rock anthems 
just heard about Francis Buchholz... like 71? he was a beast on that bass 
can't believe he's gone too soon 
Francis Buchholz 
Poor guy died of cancer at 71... yeah, I know, it's not like a lot of people don't die from that, but still... 
Francis Buchholz was basically the backbone of Scorpions' sound and without him, they wouldn't be half as big as they are. Like, "Wind of Change" is an iconic song and all, but let's give credit to Buchholz - he wrote those bass lines! 
guess he finally beat that thing or somethin. its a shame he had to leave scorpions in '92, sounded like they were still killin it back then. he was the backbone of their sound, and now he's gone 
those hits are gonna keep on sellin though, so i guess thats a good thing? anyway, RIP francis... 
, I loved listening to Scorpions back in the day "Rock You Like a Hurricane" still gives me chills 
... didn't know he had cancer, hope his family is doing okay 
... it's crazy how much impact one person can have on music, Francis was like the heartbeat of Scorpions 
... and I love how proud he was of what they achieved, that's just awesome 
... RIP Francis, you will be missed by so many 
. His family's post is super nice, and I love how he was so proud of what Scorpions accomplished - but then again, I'm not sure if leaving the band in '92 was such a great idea for him... I mean, his playing style was so iconic, and it sounds like it really held the band together 
... u feel like ur losin part of rock history with him gone 
... i remember listening to his riffs on "Wind of Change" and getting chills every time 
. As an intellectual observer, I'm struck by how his courage in the face of cancer only reinforced the values he instilled in his family - a testament to his character 
.
"Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Wind of Change" still give me chills every time I listen to them 
Those songs are just iconic and he was the one who made them rock (pun intended) 
. It's crazy to think about how much the band changed after he left, but at the same time, it's cool that he got to step away from the group when things got too intense for him. Family always comes first, right?