Canadian musician Alan Doyle is among those paying tribute to Midnight Oil bassist Wayne Stevens, who died Saturday at 62.
“Ah Bones. Rock on. RIP,” tweeted Doyle upon learning that Stevens – better known as Bones Hillman – lost a battle with cancer at home in Milwaukee.
A statement from Midnight Oil read: “He was the bassist with the beautiful voice, the band member with the wicked sense of humour, and our brilliant musical comrade. We will deeply miss our dear friend and companion.”
Stevens was born in New Zealand and played in numerous bands before replacing Peter Gifford in Midnight Oil in 1987. He played on six of the band’s studio albums – from 1990’s Blue Sky Mining to this year’s The Makarrata Project.
“What a grand chap he was,” tweeted actor-musician Russell Crowe. “Sad sad news.”
Stevens, who relocated to Nashville in 2007, is survived by wife Denise.