Brett Tuggle

September 23, 1951 – June 19, 2022

David Coverdale And Rick Springfield were among those to pay tribute to Brett Tuggle, best known as a member of David Lee Roth’s live band and a touring musician with Fleetwood Mac, after the 70-year-old succumbed to complications related to cancer. Coverdale, who worked with Tuggle as part of Coverdale-Page, said he was “a delightful man”, while Springfield, who hired the keyboard player in ’82, Tweeted: “Our sweet Brett Tuggle made it home tonight. God bless his beautiful spirit.”

Colorado-born Tuggle found an early break with Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels, playing on their album Detroit. His next stop was with John Kay & Steppenwolf in ’81. He then hooked up with Springfield when the singer hit the big time with Jessie’s Girl. With Dave Lee Roth

Tuggle played on the world tour for the Eat ’Em And Smile album, and with Roth wrote Just Like Paradise, a hit single from follow-up, Skyscraper. Tuggle remained with the singer until 1994.

After meeting Mick Fleetwood, he played keyboards for the drummer’s side-project The Zoo. It wasn’t long before Tuggle became a part of the Fleetwood Mac family, playing with them on every tour from 1997 to 2017, and also gigging with Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and Buckingham McVie.

Bassist Billy Sheehan, who played with Tuggle in Roth’s group, said Tuggle was “the ‘secret weapon’ of the Eat ’Em And Smile band and tour, loved by everyone that ever met him, and gifted with supreme talent”, while Steve Vai, who was also in Roth’s band at that time, described him as “one of the finest people I have ever met”.

Tuggle also played with Steven Tyler, Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw, and Belinda Carlisle among others.