Alec John Such, Founding Bon Jovi Member and Bassist, Dead at 70: 'Always Wild and Full of Life'

Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Alec John Such, a bassist and one of the founding members ofBon Jovi, has died. He was 70.

The Grammy Award winning band announced Such’s death Sunday with a heartfelt tribute on Twitter. They did not disclose a cause of death.

“We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such,” they shared. “He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band.”

“To be honest, we found our way to each other thru him - He was a childhood friend of Tico [Torres, drummer] and broughtRichie [Sambora, guitarist and co-songwriter] to see us perform. Alec was always wild and full of life. Today those special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We’ll miss him dearly,” the band wrote.

A source close to Sambora, 62, tells PEOPLE, “He and Richie were very close. Richie never had a bad word to say about him.”

The band also shared avideo tribute, featuring a live performance of their 1988 song “Blood On Blood,” cut with photos and footage from over the years of Such with his bandmates, including singerJon Bon Joviand keyboardistDavid Bryan.

“Now to my bandmates, we had so many great times together and I just love them to death, always will,” Such said in one throwback clip, adding in another: “The Bon Jovi band is definitely a family.”

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Such and Sambora reunited with the band in Feb. 2018, when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

RELATED VIDEO: Richie Sambora Has No Regrets About His Controversial Decision to Leave Bon Jovi: ‘My Daughter Needed Me to Be Around’

“When Jon Bon Jovi called me up and asked me to be in his band many years ago, I soon realized how serious he was and he had a vision that he wanted to bring us to,” Suchsaidduring the ceremony. “And I am only too happy to have been a part of that vision.”

source: people.com