Guitarist Stuart Anstis, best known as a member of black-metal band Cradle of Filth, has died aged 48.
The news was confirmed by the British musician’s wife Antoinette Anstice, who shared a heartfelt message about the rocker on social media.
“Stuart Anstice 2/5/1974 – 21/8/2022,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “Rest in peace, you were too beautiful for this world my love.
“Nothing will ever be the same again, until we meet again, always love and always yours Antoinette…”
The rocker’s former bandmate Richard Shaw, who was part of Cradle of Filth from 2014 until earlier this year, paid tribute to his friend on social media.
“Rest in peace, Stuart. It was an honor to perform your music,” Shaw wrote in an Instagram post. “Thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time.”
Anstis was part of Cradle in Filth from 1995 to 1999.
During his tenure in the band, Anstis wrote several of the band’s most famous albums, including the 1996 hit record “Dusk and Her Embrace” as well as “We Empire or Dark Fairytales in Falstein” released the same year.
He also wrote and recorded the 1998 album, “Cruelty and the Beast”.
After leaving Cradle of Filth in 1999, Anstis formed the band Bastardsun, which disbanded in 2005 following the sudden death of frontman David Wayne.