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Beloved Australian musician John 'Tatt' Dalzell, bass player for 80s rockers Johnny Diesel and the Injectors, has died at age 66.
Mark Lizotte, known by his stage name of Diesel, announced the sad news on his social media on Wednesday.
No details, including the cause of death, have been made public as yet.
'RIP John Dalzell,' Lizotte said in his Instagram tribute, which he also shared to Facebook.
He continued: 'Thanks for the music we made together, the sweat, tears and laughs. One of the most gentle souls one could ever encounter... sending light and love to his family.'
According to an obituary on music blog Noise, Dalzell's surname became the inspiration for the Johnny Diesel and the Injectors brand.
Beloved Australian musician John 'Tatt' Dalzell, bass player for 80s rockers Johnny Diesel and the Injectors, has died at age 66.
Mark Lizotte, known by his stage name of Diesel, announced the sad news on his social media on Wednesday. Pictured: Dalzell with the band Johnny Diesel and the Injectors in 1986
The Perth-born musician joined Lizotte, the US-born brother-in-law of Jimmy Barnes, to form the band, known for its hard rock sound, in Perth, WA, in 1986.
He won admiration for his bass sound from followers and peers alike.
After winning over audiences in Perth, Dalzell relocated to Sydney with the other members of his group.
Quickly establishing a strong following in Sydney's thriving music scene, the band scored a record deal in 1988 after touring as a support act for Jimmy Barnes.
They went to the US to record their first self-titled album, which peaked at No.2 on the ARIA chart in Australia in 1989.
It later won an ARIA for Highest Selling Album, after the record had shipped 280,000 units - a huge number for an Aussie record at the time.
Dalzell won plaudits for his memorable bass line on the band's hit single Don't Need Love.
After Johnny and The Injectors split in 1991, Diesel pursued a solo career, and according to Noise Dalzell's bass lines anchored his former bandmates' sound.
Dalzell won admiration for his bass sound from followers and peers alike. Pictured: Dalzell rocking in a scene from one of Johnny and Injectors music videos
He reportedly moved to the Northern Territory in later years.
He also had stints playing with the bands Innocent Bystanders and Living Sounds Of Love.
Lizotte's post has inspired many fans and fellow musicians to share their own tributes to Dalzell, including hitmaker Nathan Cavaleri, who posted a blue heart emoji.
Mick Evans of Melbourne's Prairie Oysters messaged, 'RIP John, definitely one of the nicest chilled fellas I encountered early in my...touring days. Condolences Mark.'
'Very sad news. He was a brilliant part of Johnny Diesel and the Injectors. Too young to leave this earth x,' added another follower.
'From the opening bass line of the Injectors Don't Need Love I was hooked and then a fan for life. RIP John (the original Johnny Diesel),' said another person on Facebook.
Added another: 'It’s a fact of music life that the guys behind some of the most iconic and recognisable lines/riffs escape mainstream fame. That opening bass from Don't Need Love is the stuff legacy is made of... tough weeks for Aus music.'
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