The Damned bassist Bryn Merrick has passed away at the age of 57. The  bass player lost his battle with cancer and died University Hospital Llandough in Cardiff on Saturday, September 12.

Merrick posted his final comment on Facebook on August 18, which read, “Goodbye, signing out for a while.”

Merrick joined the iconic ’70s punk band in 1984, replacing original member Paul Gray. He played on two albums with the band: their best-selling sixth album, 1985’s Phantasmagoria, which included the hit single “Eloise” and the 1986 follow-up Anything. Merrick also appeared with The Damned on an episode of the UK comedy The Young Ones. 

Following his brief stay with The Damned, Merrick continued on to play in Ramones cover band The Shamones where he was known as BeeBee Shamone. The Shamones then split in August.

His bandmate Andy Johnson announced Merrick’s passing with the following Facebook post:

“On behalf of his daughter, Ella, and sons, Richard and Christian, it is with so much sadness that I announce that my best friend, Bryn Merrick, passed away peacefully this morning after a long battle with cancer at Llandough Hospital near Cardiff.”