Longtime Neil Young Bassist Rick Rosas Dead at 65

Rick Rosas, longtime bassist for Neil Young, passed away Thursday (Nov. 6) at the age of 65.

Rosas's passing was confirmed via a Facebook post by Crazy Horse drummer Ralph Molina, Billboard notes. The cause of death is not yet known. The musician, affectionately known as "Rick the Bass Player," recently toured with Young and Crazy Horse over the summer in Europe in place of Billy Talbot, who suffered a stroke before the jaunt. He also played in Pegi Young's (Neil's ex-wife) backing band, The Survivors.

"His loss is a terrible shock to our band of Survivors, along with his many other dear friends and loved ones," Pegi wrote in a statement. "So respected in the music community, he was truly an amazing bass player. I was incredibly lucky and honored to have him in my band and to count him among my friends."

According to Young's unofficial fansite, Thrasher's Wheat, Rosas played with Joe Walsh, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Rivers, Ron Wood and Etta James. He also filled in on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's farewell tour in addition to Buffalo Springfield's reunion trek.

Rosas is credited on six of Young's studio albums and one EP. He played on 1988′s This Note's For You, 1989′s Eldorado (EP) and Freedom, 2005's Prairie Wind, 2006's Living with War, 2007′s Chrome Dreams II and 2009′s Fork in the Road.

"He can play anything," Young said about Rosas in the 2007 concert film, Neil Young Trunk Show, Ultimate Classic Rock notes.

Listen to Rosas's bass work on the Young classic "Rockin' in the Free World."

Tags

Neil Young, Bassist, Crazy Horse