They keep dropping.

[Herman]

Former Scorpions bassist Francis Buchholz has died, aged 71.

The bassist's death was confirmed by his family in a post on Facebook this morning, January 23.

Born in Hanover, West Germany, on February 19, 1954, Francis Buchholz played with Düsseldorf-born guitarist Uli Jon Roth in hard rock band Dawn Road, both men joining Scorpions following the departure of Michael Schenker to UFO, making their recording debut with the band on 1974's Fly To The Rainbow.

Roth left Scorpions in 1978 following the release of the band's fifth album, Taken By Force, but Buchholz remained with the band until 1992, playing on classic albums such as Love Drive (1979), Blackout (1982), Love At First Sting (1984) plus live albums Tokyo Tapes (1978) and World Wide Live (1985).

His final album with the band was 1990's Crazy World.