Abe Futoshi, former guitarist for the legendary garage punk group Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, died this week. His death was announced July 22 and attributed to acute epidural hematoma. He would have turned 43 in December.

Thee Michelle Gun Elephant formed in 1991. Abe joined in 1994 and played with the group until they broke up in 2003. TMGE had respectable success overseas and released two albums in America.

Sources:

http://www.bounce.com/news/daily.php/20274

http://www.japan-zone.com/news