Paul Barrere, the longtime singer and guitarist for US rock outfit Little Feat has passed away at the age of 71, the band confirmed in a statement.
Born in 1948, Paul Barrere rose to fame in 1972 when he joined Little Feat, a group created by ex Frank Zappa’s Mothers Of Invention member and former schoolmate Lowell George.
Joining the band in time for the recording of their third record Dixie Chicken, Barrere is credited as one of the lead contributors to the band’s notable change in sound, incorporating more of a New Orleans-influenced vibe than on previous albums.
Following the dissolution of the group in 1979 following the passing of Lowell George, Paul Barrere performed with blues-rock quintet The Bluesbusters in addition to kicking off a solo career, only to rejoin the newly-reformed group in 1987.
Sadly, Barrere had also struggled with health issues for quite some time. In addition to being diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 1994, he was later diagnoses with liver cancer in 2015.
Having also suffered from liver disease for quite some time, a statement from the band earlier today revealed that the iconic rocker passed away on Saturday due to complications from the disease.
“It is with great sorrow that Little Feat must announce the passing of our brother guitarist, Paul Barrere, this morning at UCLA Hospital,” the group wrote. “We ask for your kindest thoughts and best wishes to go out especially to his widow Pam and children Gabriel, Genevieve, and Gillian, and to all the fans who were his extended family.”
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“Paul auditioned for Little Feat as a bassist when it was first being put together—in his words, ‘as a bassist I make an excellent guitarist’—and three years later joined the band in his proper role on guitar.
“Forty-seven years later, he was forced to miss the current tour, which will end tomorrow, due to side effects from his ongoing treatment for liver disease.”
Noting that Barrere had previously told fans he would be back on deck before too long, the band noted that sadly, this was not to be, with the rocker’s health issues getting the better of him.
“He promised to follow his doctor’s orders, get back in shape, and rock on the beach at the band’s annual gathering in Jamaica in January 2020. ‘Until then,’ he wrote, ‘keep your sailin’ shoes close by…if I have my way, you’re going to need them!’
“As the song he sang so many times put it, he was always ‘Willin’,’ but it was not meant to be,” the group concluded. “Paul, sail on to the next place in your journey with our abiding love for a life always dedicated to the muse and the music. We are grateful for the time we have shared.”
Our thoughts go out to the friends, family, and musical colleagues of Paul Barrere during this difficult time.
Check out Paul Barrere performing on Little Feat’s ‘Walkin’ All Night’:
