Goodbye to the legendary guitarist who left us at the age of 67 and who changed the hard rock scene of the 80s

Chris Hager, one of the founding members of a band that was the precursor to the popular 1980s glam metal group Ratt, has died aged 67.

“An amazing person, a great guitarist”

Hager’s death was confirmed this week by Stephen Pearcy, who formed the Ratt forerunner, Mickey Ratt, alongside the guitarist in the late 1970s.

“This morning I’m very saddened to hear about the passing of my dear friend, guitarist and musician Christopher (Chris) Hager,” Pearcy wrote on social media on Monday.

“Chris and I started Mickey Ratt together in San Diego 1977 and in moving to L.A. actually created the band RATT in 1981.

“Chris was an amazing person, a great guitarist, songwriter and so committed to being just that.

“He went on to create a few projects over the years with Sarge, Rough Cutt, Woop and the Count and our solo project Pearcy/Hager.

“We were actually working on new songs recently, and they will be heard. I’m at loss my friend, we’ve been through a lot together. God bless you brother.”

The cause of Hager’s death had not been publicly revealed at the time of writing.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.