Bassobit: Andy Hummel

Andy Hummel, original bassist with Big Star, has died at the age of 59.

Although the immediate cause of death was a heart attack, Hummel had been fighting cancer for quite a period. He'd recently had a hip operation, during which doctors had discovered the cancer had advanced, diagnosing that it was probably terminal.

Although beset with health problems, Hummel played as part of a Big Star tribute at this year's SXSW festival.

A founder member of Big Star, Hummel had quit in the mid-1970s; he'd been reluctant to join any of the recent revivals of the band.