Former Happy Mondays guitarist Paul 'Wags' Wagstaff has died, aged 60
The Manchester-born guitarist is best known for his work with Black Grape, The Happy Mondays, Paris Angels and The Charlatans
Former Happy Mondays and Black Grape guitarist Paul 'Wags' Wagstaff has died, aged 60.
Close friends to the Manchester-born musician confirmed the news on Saturday (March 22), including former bandmate Bez who shared a picture on Instagram of himself and Wags in Black Grape with the caption: "Mr Paul Wagstaff (Wags), remembering the good times. RIP my friend."
Wagstaff was a prolific musician throughout the 90s, who originally played guitar for the Manchester seven-piece band Paris Angels, which reformed in 2013 after splitting in 1992. He joined Shaun Ryder and Mark 'Bez' Berry's rock band Black Grape after the Happy Mondays broke up in 1993.
Wags also played guitar for the Happy Mondays when the group started anew in 1999; the Happy Mondays broke up a couple of years later, before re-emerging in 2004 — Wagstaff would go on to play for Bez's band Domino Bones and The Charlatans.
The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess also paid tribute to Wagstaff, sharing a video of the two performing alongside each other on Top of The Pops, writing: "Adios Wags - an honourary Charlatan who it was always good to see. Love to The Paris Angels & Black Grape families."
According to the Metro, his Paris Angels bandmate Scott Carey said: "‘His talent was innate as was his ability to sniff out a good time at 50 paces," adding: "He had a wonderment about his soul."
The British musician Badly Drawn Boy also shared a tribute to the guitarist on X, writing: "I’m very saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Wags... aka Paul Wagstaff. He was always a really lovely bloke, and a truly talented and soulful guitarist. Very sad news."
Read more tributes to Paul 'Wags' Wagstaff below.
Henrietta Taylor is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter