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Billie Joe Armstrong, Iggy Pop and more have paid tribute to the late Phil Everly - including his brother and musical partney Don.
Phil, one half of the iconic rock duo The Everly Brothers, has died, aged 74. Everly's wife Patti confirmed the sad news, telling The LA Times that the star passed away in Los Angeles on 3 January, 2014, following complications from chronic pulmonary disease, which she added was caused by a lifetime of smoking. She also stated the the family was 'absolutely heartbroken' at his passing.
His brother Don has led the tributes, telling The Associated Press: "Our love was and will always be deeper than any earthly differences we might have had. I loved my brother very much ... the world might be mourning an Everly Brother, but I'm mourning my brother Phil Everly."
He continued: "I was listening to one of my favourite songs that Phil wrote and had an extreme emotional moment just before I got the news of his passing. I took that as a special spiritual message from Phil saying goodbye."
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has also paid his respects. Notably, Armstrong recently teamed up with Norah Jones to record and release Foreverly - a tribute to the music of the Everly Brothers.
"I am saddened by the news of the passing of Phil Everly," Armstrong wrote on Twitter. "The Everly brothers go way back as far as I can remember hearing music. Those harmonies will live on forever. We're gonna miss you Phil. Gratitude."
Norah Jones added: "The Everlys had a huge influence on all kinds of musicians. The high harmonies Phil sang were fluid and so beautiful and always sound effortless in a way that just washes over the listener. He was one of our greats and it's very sad to lose him."
Meanwhile, punk icon Iggy Pop took his official Facebook page to remember Phil Everly, saying: "The Everlys were the real deal when it comes to American music. I saw them in the 60s at the 20 Grand in Detroit, and they seriously rocked the huge house, with just two Gibson Jumbos, and their voices. And man, did these guys have cool haircuts.
"It's brothers like the Everlys that make the music scene of today worth bothering with."
