Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell died from multi-organ failure

Phil Campbell of Motorhead performs in concert during the 2012 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival at the Gexa Energy Pavillion on July 10, 2012 in Dallas — **Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell died on March 13 at the age of 64.** (Image credit: Gary Miller/FilmMagic)

Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell died from multiple-organ failure after suffering complications from a series of necessary surgeries, a coroner’s inquest has heard.

Campbell, who joined Motörhead in 1984 and remained with the band until its dissolution in 2015, died on March 13 at the age of 64. The cause of death was disclosed Friday, October 2, at St. Pancras Coroner’s Court in London.

The Welsh guitarist had two liver transplants at London’s Royal Free Hospital earlier this year. While the second transplant was successful, Campbell subsequently developed complications and underwent bowel surgery. He was later moved to intensive care, where his condition deteriorated rapidly.

Phil Campbell of Motorhead performs on stage during the Marshall 50 Years Of Loud concert celebrating Marshall Amplifiers 50th anniversary at Wembley Arena on September 22, 2012 in London,) — (Image credit: Christie Goodwin/Redferns via Getty Images)

Coroner Dr. Richard Brittain recorded the cause of death as multiple-organ failure and concluded the guitarist died from complications arising from necessary surgical procedures.

"My view is that there is nothing here to suggest his death could have been prevented," Brittain said.

My view is that there is nothing here to suggest his death could have been prevented.”
— Dr. Richard Brittain

The inquest also heard that Campbell had been sober for seven years at the time of his death. He had previously struggled with alcohol and had received treatment for Hepatitis C.

Campbell’s family announced his death in March, saying he had spent a long period in intensive care following what they described as a “complex major operation.” They remembered him as a devoted husband, father and grandfather, known within the family as “Bampi.”

“His legacy, music and the memories he created with so many will live on forever,” the family said.

Motörhead paid tribute to Campbell following his death, describing him as a “wonderful” guitarist, writer, performer and musician who “had Motörhead in his veins.”

The band also remembered Campbell for his sense of humor and his love of life.

“The world has just lost an enormous beam of light, and we are devastated,” Motörhead said.

Phil Campbell and Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead perform during the 2011 Hangout Music Festival on May 21, 2011 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. — **With Lemmy Kilmister at the 2011 Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, May 21, 2011.** (Image credit: Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

Campbell was Motörhead’s second-longest-serving member after frontman and bass guitarist Lemmy Kilmister, joining the band in 1984 and helping define its sound with his electric guitar work. He played on every Motörhead album from 1986’s Orgasmatron through 2015’s Bad Magic.

After Motörhead ended following Kilmister’s death in December 2015, Campbell continued performing with his sons Todd, Dane and Tyla in Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons.

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Christopher Scapelliti is editor-in-chief of GuitarPlayer.com and the former editor of Guitar Player, the world’s longest-running guitar magazine, founded in 1967. In his extensive career, he has authored in-depth interviews with such guitarists as Pete Townshend, Slash, Billy Corgan, Jack White, Elvis Costello and Todd Rundgren, and audio professionals including Beatles engineers Geoff Emerick and Ken Scott. He is the co-author of Guitar Aficionado: The Collections: The Most Famous, Rare, and Valuable Guitars in the World, a founding editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine, and a former editor with Guitar World, Guitar for the Practicing Musician and Maximum Guitar. Apart from guitars, he maintains a collection of more than 30 vintage analog synthesizers.