Rock bassist dead at 48

14:13 08 May 2009

Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Donald 'Ean' Evans has died aged 48.

The musician from the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has died of cancer at his home in Mississippi, Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant has confirmed.

A statement posted on the band's website announced Ean's death "with profound sadness". It said he had "put up a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer."

Ean was born in Atlanta, but moved to Columbus in eastern Mississippi after marrying his wife, Eva before joining the infamously ill-fated band.

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The group's original line-up fell victim to a plane crash in 1977 that took the lives of the lead singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines. Original bass player Leon Wilkeson was found dead in his hotel room in 2001.

Replacing Wilkeson, Evans joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2001 and had been touring regularly with the band until his cancer diagnosis in 2008. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

The group is currently embarking on a world tour.