I was really sad to hear that Francis Buchholz, the Scorpions’ bassist during their most famous years, has passed away. He was 71. He was such a huge part of their sound back when they were at the top of the world, and it’s a real loss.
The family of Francis Buchholz announced his death on social media, sharing that he passed away yesterday after a private fight with cancer. They said he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. They also expressed gratitude to his fans worldwide for their constant support and love, noting that fans gave him everything, and he shared his music with them in return.
The band Scorpions shared news of the passing of their longtime bass player, Francis Buchholz. They expressed deep sadness and said his contributions to the band will never be forgotten, fondly remembering the many happy moments they shared.
Rudolf Buchholz was born in West Germany in 1954 and began his music career in the rock band Dawn Road. He joined the Scorpions in 1974, playing on their album “Fly to the Rainbow” and becoming a key part of the band’s most famous lineup. Buchholz contributed to many of the Scorpions’ most successful albums, including “Lovedrive” (1979), “Blackout” (1982), and “Love at First Sting” (1984), as well as their live albums “Tokyo Tapes” and “World Wide Live.”
Reflecting on Scorpions’ impact around the time the Cold War ended, he recalled growing up with the Iron Curtain still dividing Europe. As a boy in Germany, he lived under the constant fear of a potential third World War between Russia and the United States, specifically worrying about a Russian invasion through East Germany. He described a powerful moment in the 1990s when Scorpions played at a Peace Festival in Moscow and were invited to the Kremlin by then-Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev. He felt it was incredible that their music had led to such an opportunity.
After the release of the 1990 album “Crazy World,” he departed from the band. He then went on to tour with Uli Jon Roth, a former Scorpions bandmate, and Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock.
Buchholz is survived by wife wife, Hella, and three children.
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2026-01-24 00:02