Walter Lure, guitarist for punk pioneers The Heartbreakers, dead at 71

Walter Lure an influential rock guitarist and founding member of The Heartbreakers, has died. He was 71.

Lure died from complications from cancer, according to the Starwood, a Los Angeles nightclub. Lure had been diagnosed with liver and lung cancer earlier in the year.

“He was much loved by all and respected for all he contributed to the world of music,” club officials wrote on social media.

The Heartbreakers released their seminal album “L.A.M.F.,” in 1975. The band was part of the 1976 “Anarchy” tour in the U.K., which featured a lineup of legendary punk bands including The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned, udiscovermusic.com reported.

Lure contributed to The Heartbreakers until the early 1990s, when Johnny Thunders died. Drummer Jerry Nolan died in 1992 and Billy Rath died in 2014.

Lure also contributed to The Ramones' albums "Subterranean Jungle" and "Too Tough to Die."

Lure later formed The Waldos and continued to play live shows while also working on Wall Street as a stock broker.

Cox Media Group