Photo by Getty Images  (From Left to Right: Lead guitarist Richie Sambora, lead vocalist Jon Bon Jovi, and bassist Alec John Such)

Bon Jovi announced over the weekend that the band’s original bassist Alec John Such passed away.

The social media statement read, ” “We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such. He was an original.” The band continued, “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] and brought Richie [Sambora] 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.”

Such had been a member of Bon Jovi since its formation in 1982 and played on their first five albums making him an integral component of the band’s history. Bon Jovi experienced their first significant change when Such left the band in 1994 and was replaced by  Hugh McDonald who still continues to work with the band.

KLOS sends all of our love out to Alec John Such’s family and loved ones. Watch Such perform Runaway with Bon Jovi live in Japan in 1985 here: