Phil Ashley, Kiss and Mick Jagger Keyboardist, Dead at 65

Phil Ashley (top left), Doug Wimbish, Simon Philips and Joe Satriani
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Phil Ashley (top left) (PC: Joe Satriani)

Keyboardist Phil Ashley, who played on several projects for Kiss, Mick Jagger, Aerosmith and Jeff Beck, died on July 10 at 65-years-old. The cause of death has not been revealed.

Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley confirmed the news of Ashley's sudden death as he penned a loving tribute to his close friend on Twitter. 

"My dear friend Phil Ashley has died suddenly," Stanley shared. "He was a no bullsh*t, warm and kind soul who I shared so many hours talking about the value of life, family and music. He played keyboards for many of the greats. The times we won't have leaves me empty."

The composer and arranger also tallied up credits with Billy Idol, Aerosmith, Chicago, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin and Lou Gramm, among many others. 

Ashley especially grew close to Kiss during his career, having grown up in Queens with Stanley with their affinity for music being the common thread. 

"We were always running into each other, whether it was parties or at the bus stop — because he went to school in the city — and I was always going into the city," Ashley shared to Kiss Concert History. "So we'd always see each other and stop and talk about music. This was our thing, but we weren't in the same bands because I was doing more of the Allman Brothers type stuff and he was doing a bit more of the hard rock stuff."

Eventually Ashley contributed to the band, initially helping with opening music before "they flew [him] out and were doing rehearsal," he recounted to Kiss Concert History. The musician ended up contributing to multiple Kiss releases, including 1987's Crazy Nights and the 1988 single "Let's Put the X in Sex." 

Joe Satriani also paid his respects on Twitter with a picture of the two of them with Doug Wimbish and Philips during the making of "The Extremist," adding, "Our dear friend Phil Ashley passed away last week. He was a magnificent musician and human being. My deepest condolences to his family. R.I.P Phil, we all miss you." 

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