Jeff LaBar, the legendary guitarist of the glam metal band Cinderella, was found dead at his apartment in Nashville on July 14, 2021. His cause of death is still unclear, but his son Sebastian LaBar revealed that he was unconscious for days before his tragic demise.
A Shocking Discovery
According to TMZ, Jeff’s first wife, Gaile LaBar-Bernhardt, went to check on him after he had gone off the grid for a few days and no one could reach him. She was the one who discovered his lifeless body and alerted the authorities.
Sebastian, who is also a guitarist for the band Tantric, confirmed his father’s death on Instagram with a heartfelt post. He wrote, “So I just got the call… @jefflabar , 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 videos of all the fun times we all had with my dad. It would be greatly appreciated.”
A Legendary Career
Jeff joined Cinderella in 1985, replacing the original guitarist Michael Schermick. He was part of the band’s classic lineup, along with Tom Keifer, Eric Brittingham, and Fred Coury. Cinderella rose to fame in the 1980s with their hit songs “Nobody’s Fool” and “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)”. They toured with other rock icons like Poison, David Lee Roth, and Bon Jovi.
Jeff also pursued a solo career and released his debut album “One for the Road” in 2014. He also played in a side project called Naked Beggars with Brittingham.
A Heartfelt Tribute
Jeff’s former bandmates issued a statement to Rolling Stone, expressing their grief and condolences. They said, “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.”
They continued, “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.”
Jeff LaBar was 58 years old. He will be remembered as one of the most talented and charismatic guitarists in the history of rock music.
