Loud" Jim Marshall, whose signature amplifiers gave volume to
generations of guitar legends.
Slash, who was one of his most admiring customers, led tributes to the
88-year-old, saying on Twitter: "(Rock and roll) will never be the
same without him. But, his amps will live on FOREVER!"
Mr Marshall, a former music shop owner from west London, died in a
hospice after battling cancer and having had a number of strokes.
He worked as an engineer and a drummer before creating his
breakthrough amplifier. It was launched in 1965 as a cheap alternative
to American brands, but its distinctive tone soon had the likes of
Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton plugging in.
Later, many heavy metal acts did their best to deafen headbangers by
stacking the amplifiers and trademark black speaker units - branded
with the Marshall name in white - from ceiling to floor.
Noel Gallagher, The Edge and Kurt Cobain were also fans, but the amp's
legendary status was sealed in the film This Is Spinal Tap when spoof
lead guitarist Nigel Tuffnel claimed his Marshall's volume knob went
"one louder" - as high as 11.
In response, Jim Marshall set about producing models that could be
cranked up to 20.
Other rockers paying tribute to him on Twitter on Thursday included
Dave Mustaine, frontman of metal group Megadeth, who said: "I have
never been sadder than today."
Mr Marshall's son Terry said: "He got cancer toward the end of last
year, and had surgery for that, and it came back. He was in a terrible
state the last five or six weeks. He's in a much better place now."
Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx said: "RIP Jim, you were responsible
for some of the greatest audio moments in music's history - and 50%
responsible for all our hearing loss."
Mr Marshall was given the OBE in 2003 for his services to music and
charity and donated millions of pounds to good causes, including the
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, where he was treated
for tuberculosis as a boy
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