According to some industry reports, including his former bandmate Simon Wright, Jimmy Bain, former bassist of Dio and Rainbow, has died at the age of 68. No cause of death has been listed, but a posting on Wright’s Facebook page appear tp confirm it. Bain had been playing in The Last In Line, a band featuring his former Dio bandmates Vivian Campbell and Vinny Appice, and had just played in Miami, this past Wednesday (20), and were taking place in Def Leppard’s inaugural ‘Hysteria on the High Seas’ cruise.

Bain had been the primary bassist for Dio since his first album in 1983, co-writing songs like “Rainbow in the Dark” and “Holy Diver” and playing on the first four albums to return 13 years later for two more, Magica and Killing the Dragon. He was also the bassist on Rainbow’s Rising and played on two of Phil Lynott’s (Thin Lizzy) solo albums. Bain joins a growing list that includes Lemmy, David Bowie, Glenn Frey and Mott the Hoople drummer Dale Griffin of rock stars that have died in the past month, all ranging from 67 to 70.

[via Blabbermouth

Bram Teitelman

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