Revered Australian musician Brian Hooper is confirmed to have passed away today after being diagnosed with incurable lung cancer last year.
A statement issued to Hooper's Facebook page confirmed his passing.
"Brian’s ship peacefully sailed this morning," a post issued by his partner, Ninevah Hooper, reads.
"I was with him during that departure. It’s the hardest thing a partner could ever do but to say good bye.
"I told my three year old twins that mummy and drs could no longer bring daddy home. Daddy was flying away like a [sic] free bird in the blue sky."
Hooper's passing comes just hours ahead of a benefit gig in his honour tonight in Perth. It was to follow a concert held in Melbourne last weekend, which featured a one-off reunion of his band, legendary outfit Beasts Of Bourbon.
Formed in 1983, Beasts Of Bourbon blew up the very next year with their debut album, The Axeman's Jazz.
Together they released five more studio records, with the last being 2007's Little Animals.
As well as his success with Beasts Of Bourbon, Hooper released a solo album in 2007 and performed with revered artists such as Kim Salmon & The Surrealists, Spencer P Jones and Charlie Marshall.
Tributes have since flown following the news of Hooper's passing.
Umm.. absolutely hopeless. I hate them. The TISM lacks the sheer sort of
— TISM (@TISM1982) April 20, 2018
guts of anything like, say The Beasts Of Bourbon. I mean... I mean there's
a gutsy band. #tism#RIP #brianHooper
It is with heavy hearts we inform you that Brian Hooper passed away early this morning. He battled long and hard with true tenacity. A gentleman much loved by many.
— Fly By Night (@FlyByNightMC) April 20, 2018
All of us here at Gate One send our... https://t.co/UcbBZXKKUr
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