The founding member of Kick Axe toured with his band while battling cancer in 2024, according to a news release announcing his death.
Regina's Larry Gillstrom, a veteran metal and hard rock guitarist whose band Kick Axe rose to prominence in the 1980s, has died. Surviving members of the band announced his death in a news release, which was sent to the Regina Leader-Post on Tuesday. Gillstrom, who was born in 1955 and raised in Regina, passed away on Aug. 4, states the release. He was a founding member of the band, which originally formed in Regina during the late '70s before relocating to Vancouver.
"Larry maintained a positive and upbeat attitude as he quietly fought a courageous battle with cancer, all while performing live shows with Kick Axe in 2024," the release goes on to say. It notes the guitarist played his final show on Nov. 23, 2024 in his "beloved hometown of Regina, where it all began".
Gillstrom recently did an interview with the Leader-Post in which he remarked on the influence of metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, who died last month. He announced during the interview that Kick Axe had finished recording an upcoming album, which he hoped to tour.
The sound of the record offers something of a return to the band's roots, with songs that would have fit on its 1984 breakout album Vices, Gillstrom told the Leader-Post. He and his bandmates worked on their newest record "until the very end," according to the release.
"Larry was truly a wonderful, inspirational person and musician who will be missed by his family, band mates, friends and fans worldwide," it states. "In honour of Larry, please crank up your favourite Kick Axe song or album. …and of course Stay On The Road To Rock Forever!"