Cinderella guitarist Jeff LaBar has died at the age of 58.
The news was confirmed in an Instagram post by LaBar's son, Sebastian, who wrote, "My father, my hero, my idol, passed away today. I’m currently at a loss for words. I love you pop! If you could, please share pictures or video of all the fun times we all had with my dad. It would be greatly appreciated."
The other members of Cinderella's final line-up - founding frontman Tom Kiefer and bassist Eric Brittingham, plus drummer Fred Coury - issued a statement that read, "Heavy hearts cannot begin to describe the feeling of losing our brother Jeff. The bond between us over decades of creating music and touring the world is something that we as a band uniquely shared. Those memories with Jeff will be forever alive in our hearts. It’s unimaginable that one of our band brothers has left us. We’re sending his wife Debinique, his son Sebastian, family, and friends our deepest condolences.
"Jeff’s memory and music will be with us forever. We all... band, family and management appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of love. Rest In Peace Jeff."
LaBar joined Cinderella in 1985, three years after the band formed in Philadelphia. He went on to play on the band's albums Night Songs (1986), Long Cold Winter (1988), Heartbreak Station (1990) and 1994's Still Climbing, and was their longest serving member apart from Kiefer and Brittingham.
Although Cinderella hadn't released a studio album since Still Climbing, the band returned from hiatus in 2010 for a series of live shows, undertook a 25th anniversary tour the following year, and in 2013 performed on the Monsters of Rock Cruise, which set sail from Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
Problem's with Kiefer's voice prevented more recording, and in 2017 the singer dashed hopes of any further activity, citing irreconcilable differences with the other members of the band.
In 2016 LaBar told the Another FN Podcast: “We all made a pact a long time ago to not continue Cinderella if one of us dropped out. And I think vocalist and guitarist Tom Keifer is going to stick to that. I don’t talk to him anymore, so I don’t really know for a fact. But we all made a pact not to do it if it wasn’t the four of us – and it’s not the four of us anymore.
“I can only speculate, but I believe it’s all my fault. It’s no secret that I’ve had a drinking problem. And it showed its ugly face on one of those cruises. I guess that’s what caused a rift."
LaBar released his debut solo album, One For The Road, in 2014, telling Guitar World, "Because I had been threatening to do it for so many years, the fact that I did it was a big accomplishment. It finally took my friends and loved ones to really encourage me to do it. I hope it makes an impact and that people enjoy it."
A cause of death has not yet been announced.
