Legendary German rock bassist Francis Buchholz, known for anchoring the classic sound of the band Scorpions, has died at the age of 71, his family announced on January 23, 2026. Buchholz had been privately battling cancer before passing away peacefully with his loved ones by his side. See More…
Buchholz was born on February 19, 1954, in Hanover, Germany, and spent his teenage years immersed in music. He became a defining presence on the Scorpions’ rhythm section after joining the band in 1973, helping shape the group’s rise from European rock act to global phenomenon.

Throughout his nearly two decades with the band, Buchholz played on some of the greatest rock anthems of the 1970s and 1980s. Tracks such as “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” “Still Loving You,” and “Wind of Change” — songs that have resonated with fans worldwide for generations — were driven by his distinctive bass lines.

In a heartfelt statement, the Buchholz family shared that they stayed by his side through the illness, describing his passing with “overwhelming sadness” and gratitude for support from fans. They added that although **“the strings have gone silent,” his soul will live on in the music and in the lives he touched.” 
After leaving Scorpions in 1992, Buchholz continued his creative journey by collaborating with guitarist Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock and other projects, proving his enduring passion for music even beyond the band that made him famous.

Tributes from musicians and fans flooded social media as word of his death spread, with many remembering him not just as a musician but as an inspirational figure whose work helped define the sound of hard rock for decades.
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