Who was Brett Tuggle and what was his cause of death?

THE LEAD keyboardist for Fleetwood Mac, Brett Tuggle, is dead at 70 years old.

The renowned musician passed away on June 19, 2022, after his cancer diagnosis, his family reported.

Who is Brett Tuggle?

Brett Tuggle played with Fleetwood Mac for 20 years and co-wrote the hit song Just Like Paradise for David Lee Roth in 1988.

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Tuggle’s affinity for music began when he was only six years old and his mother brought home a piano.

He took classical lessons throughout his childhood and when he got older and started listening to The Beatles, something changed and music took on higher importance for Tuggle.

He bought a guitar and taught himself, learning to read music and chords by ear.

Tuggle started performing at local bars with various bands and had played Fleetwood Mac songs in their sets.

One night, Tuggle was performing in a band where Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, who lost one of their band members, were told by a member of their road crew they should hear Tuggle’s performance.

After hearing Tuggle perform, they asked him to join their tour, which took him to Vancouver, Canada.

In the 1980s, Tuggle played and toured with Rick Springfield and later auditioned to work with David Lee Roth after he and Van Halen went their separate ways.

He performed with Roth for several years and in 1992, he met Mick Fleetwood, and upon learning they were in need of a keyboard player, he reached out to ask for an audition.

“Getting to play with Fleetwood Mac in 1997 and doing the whole Dance record and video is still to this day, one of the highlights for me as far as a musical experience,” Tuggle wrote on in 2001.

“It was just a great time with the most amazing group of people I have ever met,” he added.

He went on to perform with Lindsey Buckingham who had left Fleetwood Mac and while on tour with her in 2021, she introduced him on stage and said, “This guy is just a master.”

She continued, “He is a superb keyboardist, bassist, guitarist, singer. And he also brings so much clarity and integrity. There’s no way in the world we could do this [show] without him.

“We’ve never been able to do it without him, nor could we in the future. We love him to death.”

Why did he leave Fleetwood Mac?

Tuggle left Fleetwood Mac in 2018 after he said Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks broke up.

Buckingham decided to go solo but didn’t have a band, something Tuggle had been concerned about.

He said he approached Nicks and told her that he needed to help Buckingham.

“I thought it was fine with everybody for a minute,” Tuggle told in 2020.

“In the end, I think, Stevie thought I was more in Lindsey’s camp. But I tried to be Switzerland to all the principles in the Mac. I felt like that was my job.”

After working with Buckingham on several gigs and simultaneously working with Nicks, he said he was told he had to choose.

“It came to a point where Stevie said, ‘You’re going to have to decide,’” he told the outlet.

“I said, ‘You know, Stevie, I love playing with you. I support you. But Lindsey doesn’t have a band.’ She said, ‘I know he needs good people.’

“She seemed to be okay with it when I went off to do Lindsey’s thing. But I think in the end, she looked at me a little as abandoning her and going over to Lindsey’s camp.”

Tuggle said his departure wasn’t meant as abandonment, and he felt unwavering support for both Buckingham and the band.

“I wasn’t all pro-Lindsey,” he said, adding, “I’m pro all of them.”

What have people said about Brett Tuggle’s death?

Tuggle passed away on June 19, 2022, after he was reportedly diagnosed with cancer.

Fame musicians and fans wrote tributes on social media including Rick Springfield who tweeted, ” Our sweet Brett Tuggle made it home tonight. God bless his beautiful spirit.”

His kindness went a long way one fan said when he wrote, “Brett was an unsung hero in so many HUGE bands: Rick, David Lee Roth, Fleetwood Mac.

“He was a stellar human. He personally responded to a fan email I sent him years ago about his big contributions to all these bands. So sad. Condolences to his family and friends.”

His son, Matt, told , “He was loved by his family so much. His family was with him throughout the entire time of his illness.

“He was a lovely father. He gave me music in my life.”

Tuggle’s affinity for music carried him throughout his extensive career and in 2019 he told , “The goal is to have the best show you can have — and you have to summon that spirit every time you get on stage.”

Tuggle is survived by his daughter Michelle and his son Matt.