JEFF LaBar, guitarist with glam rock band Cinderella, has died at the age of 58.
The sad news was confirmed by his son Sebastian in an Instagram message.
Who was Jeff LaBar?
LaBar was the guitarist with Cinderella and played on all four of their albums before the band broke up in 2017.
He replaced the band’s original guitarist Michael Schermick in 1985.
Cinderella, which featured singer-songwriter Tom Keifer, went on to sell around 15million records worldwide.
The group’s first two albums, 1986’s Night Songs and 1988’s Long Cold Winter were both certified triple platinum for sales of over three million copies each.
They went on to record two more albums, Heartbreak Station and Still Climbing.
LaBar also recorded a solo album, One For The Road in 2014 and played with a number of other groups including Cheap Thrill, Freakshow, and the Naked Beggars.
He was known as a foodie and chef, collaborating with chef "Iron Mike" Rolchigo to produce a hot sauce which reports say was “almost ready for production” at the beginning of July 2021.
LaBar blamed himself for the break up of the band, saying his heavy drinking was a big factor.
The Nobody's Fool rocker told Another FN Podcast in 2016: “I believe it's all my fault.
“It's no secret that I've had a drinking problem. And it showed its ugly face on one of those [cruises that Cinderella played].
"I guess that's what caused a rift.
“When I fell out on one of those cruise ships in front of everybody – like, basically O.D.'d – that's when the band, and mostly Tom, took notice and was, like, ‘What the f**k?’”
Jeff added: “It's just Tom and I that don't talk anymore. And I can only speculate that he's very disappointed and doesn't wanna see me die. He doesn't wanna witness me dying.”
LaBar had son Sebastian with his then wife Gaile LaBar-Bernhardt, who is said to have found his body.
What was Jeff LaBar's cause of death?
LaBar, born March 18, 1963, reportedly died at his Nashville, Tennessee, apartment on July 14, 2021.
A cause of death has not yet been given.
LaBar’s death was confirmed by his son Sebastian, 28, on Instagram.
He wrote: “So I just got the call. @jefflabar, my father, my hero, my idol, passed away today.
“I'm currently at a loss for words. I love you pop!
"If you could, please share pictures or video of all the fun times we all had with my dad. It would be greatly appreciated.”
Stryper co-founder Michael Sweet said on Twitter he was “deeply saddened” by Jeff's death, calling him a “gentleman and very kind”.
Poison drummer Rikki Rockett said on social media that he was “blown away” and couldn't “count the amount of shows we all did together with Cinderella and Poison”.
Slaughter co-founder Mark Slaughter tweeted “Gone too soon. RIP Jeff LaBar,” adding a black and white photo of himself with the rocker.
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