Sharing the sad news via Facebook, the 'War Baby' singer reveals that the Tom Robinson Band's ex-guitarist battled double pneumonia and a liver infection prior to his passing.
- March 14, 2019
AceShowbiz - British rocker Tom Robinson has paid tribute to his band's former guitarist Danny Kustow, who has died aged 69.
Kustow, who was a member of the Tom Robinson Band (TRB) line-up that had a top five hit in 1977 with "2-4-6-8 Motorway", passed away on Monday, March 11, after battling double pneumonia and a liver infection, Robinson told fans on his Facebook page.
"I'm devastated to have to tell you that my dear friend and former guitarist Danny Kustow died in the Critical Care ward at Bath Royal United Hospital (in England) on Monday," he wrote. "He'd been in a coma on life support all weekend with double pneumonia and a liver infection."
Am devastated to announce that my dear friend & former guitarist Danny Kustow died at Bath Royal United Hospital on Monday. He'd been in a coma on life support all weekend with double pneumonia and a liver infection. I'm making a formal announcement on @BBC6Music around 1.20pm pic.twitter.com/K5zCDDNGFF
— Tom Robinson (@freshnet) 13 March 2019
The veteran singer-songwriter added that when he and his wife had visited on Sunday his old colleague seemed, "peaceful and pain-free."
Kustow joined the Tom Robinson Band in 1976 and played on every one of their records that reached the U.K. top 40, and their frontman described his playing style as "fiery" and, "at the very heart of the TRB sound."
Although their debut album, "Power in the Darkness", peaked at number four in the British charts, the group never matched the success of their famous debut single, and they broke up in 1979.
Kustow did team up with Robinson on his solo material, however, and played on his 1983 hit "War Baby". The late rocker last appeared on stage with his friend by making a guest appearance at London's iconic 100 Club venue in 2017.
His private family funeral will be held on Thursday, and plans are being made for a public memorial and tribute concert in June.
