_via the band’s Facebook_

Dave Rosser, guitarist for Afghan Whigs, passed away yesterday after a long battle with colon cancer. The musician had been with the band since 2014 and had contributed to both of their recent albums, including this year’s In Spades.

The band announced the news via a post on their Facebook page, saying, “It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our friend, brother and inspiration.” The short post notes that Rosser died “peacefully…surrounded by love” and ends by saying, “Thank you to all who kept him in their hearts. He is forever in ours.” Rosser’s cancer diagnosis was revealed last fall, and a two benefit shows from the band were performed in December, where they played their album Black Love in full.

Afghan Whigs gained momentum in the ’90s but split ways in 2001, playing a few shows years later that ultimately led to their official reunion with 2014’s Do the Beast album, which included Rosser and marked the departure of founding guitarist Rick McCollum. As Rolling Stone notes, Rosser had previously played in bands with Whigs frontman Greg Dulli, The Gutter Twins and the Twilight Singers.