Kim Shattuck death: The Muffs singer and former Pixies bassist dies aged 56

Singer was described by bandmates and friends as 'a total punk-rock badass' and 'a brilliant songwriter'

Kim Shattuck performing with The Muffs at the CBGB Music & Film Festival in 2014 (Getty)

Kim Shattuck, former Pixies bassist and singer and guitarist for The Muffs, has died aged 56.

The artist had been through a two-year struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to her husband Kevin Sutherland, who shared the news on his private Instagram account.

“This morning, the love of my life passed peacefully in her sleep after a two-year struggle with ALS,” he said. “I am the man I am today because of her. She will live with all of us through her music, our shared memories and in her fierce, creative spirit.”

Shattuck launched her music career with The Pandoras, before co-founding The Muffs in 1991. They released their self-titled debut album in 1993, and reunited after a hiatus in 2004 for their sixth studio album, 2014’s Whoop Dee Doo.

She had a brief stint as bassist for the Pixies in 2013, joining the group on their European tour after Kim Deal’s departure.

Her longtime collaborator and former Muffs bandmate Melanie Vammen shared Sutherland’s post, writing that her “heart is forever broken” by Shattuck’s passing.

Fellow bandmates Ronnie Barnett and Roy McDonald paid their respects, calling her a “dear friend” and a “brilliant songwriter”.

In a statement posted to the band’s Facebook page, they wrote: “We are very sorry to announce the passing of our bandmate and dear friend Kim Shattuck. Besides being a brilliant songwriter, rocking guitarist and singer/screamer extraordinaire, Kim was a true force of nature.

“While battling ALS Kim produced our last album, overseeing every part of the record from tracking to artwork. She was our best friend and playing her songs was an honour. Goodbye Kim. We love you more than we could ever say.”

The band Veruca Salt wrote: “Heartbroken about Kim. One of the all time greats. How could anyone be such a brilliant pop songwriter, singer, screamer, and such a total punk-rock badass, and be so insanely cute at the same time? No one funnier or cooler. We love you, Kim.”

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Green Day‘s Billie Joe Armstrong called Shattuck “one of my favourite songwriters” and said he and the band listened to the first Muffs record “constantly” while making their own record, Dookie.

“We will hear that rock n roll scream from heaven,” he wrote on Instagram.