Massive Attack Lead Guitarist Angelo Bruschini Dies at Age 62

Angelo Bruschini joined Massive Attack during the recording of Mezzanine, which turned 25 this year.

Bristol, UK guitarist Angelo Bruschini has died following a battle with cancer. Perhaps best known for his contributions to Massive Attack, his passing has shaken the world of trip-hop and beyond.

The news was revealed by Bruschini’s wife, Jessica Merritt, in a Facebook post. “I am very sad to announce that my beautiful husband, Angelo Bruschini, died on 23 October 2023 at 12:15am,” she wrote. “It was from a rare and aggressive cancer – pleomorphic carcinoma.”

Bruschini had shared that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this summer. “Twice now I have been told ‘good luck’ by specialist’s at the hospital over lung cancer, I think I’m fucked!” he had written in a July 6th Facebook post. “Had a great life, seen the world many many times, met lots of wonderful people, but the door is closing, think I will write a book.”

On Tuesday, Massive Attack posted a short tribute to Bruschini on their Instagram account. “Devastated,” it reads. “How lucky we all were to share such a life together. Such a brilliant, eccentric talent. Impossible to quantify your contribution. RIP Angelo.”

Prior to his work with Massive Attack, Angelo Bruschini played with a number of other bands. Among them were The Numbers, Rimshots, Strangelove, and most notably, the rock band The Blue Aeroplanes. He also collaborated with solo artists like Jane Taylor.

Bruschini famously got involved with Massive Attack while they were recording their 1998 hit album, Mezzanine. The trip-hop group — which formed a decade prior and consisted of Robert “3D” Del Naja, Grant “Daddy G” Marshall, and Andrew “Mushroom Vowles at the time Bruschini came onboard — brought him back to record 100th Window, which released in 2003.

We here at EDM Identity express our sincere condolences for the Angelo Bruschini’s friends and loved ones during what can only be a difficult time.