It is with great sadness that we report that talented guitarist Michael Casswell passed away last week in a swimming pool accident.
Mike played guitar on tour in Brian May’s first post Queen solo band and in the studio on Cozy Powell’s ‘Especially For You’ solo album, which he also co-wrote. Since then he played with many popular artists from Ronan Keating to Limahl and taught at the Birghton Institute of Modern Music and appeared on many Lick Library instructional DVDs.
As well as being a master shredder, Mike’s playing had a softer more melodic style with an impressive finger picking technique as heard on his solo material.
MetalTalk’s Chris Dale said: “I worked with Mike on a couple of occasions. I didn’t know him well, but well enough to know he was a great player and a gentleman. I last bumped into him while he was in the studio, recording his solo album ‘Complaints About The Noise’.”
Brian May and Neil Murray both left tributes on social media. Brian paid tribute as follows:
“Very sad news of gifted guitarist – tragic accident while on holiday on Friday 30 Sept 2016. Mike was part of first incarnation of the Brian May Band (South American Tour). Many have benefited from his Lick Library videos.”
Neil Murray commented:
“Remembering a good friend and brilliant musician, Mike Casswell, who played with me in the Brian May Band in 1992, on Cozy Powell’s final solo album ‘Especially For You’ (for which Mike co-wrote all the songs) and recently was a friend and colleague at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. He died in a tragic accident on holiday, and will be enormously missed by friends, family, students and anyone who knew him. Shocking news. R.I.P. Michael.”
Our thoughts are with Mike’s family and loved ones.
