Francis Buchholz, bassist for the Scorpions on massive hits like “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and “Wind of Change,” died Thursday after a private battle with cancer, according to a social media post. “He departed this world peacefully, surrounded by love,” his family wrote in the announcement. He was 71.

“Throughout his fight with cancer, we stayed by his side, facing every challenge as a family — exactly the way he taught us,” Buchholz’s family wrote. “To his fans around the world — we want to thank you for your unwavering loyalty, your love, and the belief you placed in him throughout his incredible journey. You gave him the world, and he gave you his music in return. Though the strings have gone silent, his soul remains in every note he played and in every life he touched.”

Buchholz’s sledgehammering low end supported Scorpions’ biggest hit, 1984’s “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” providing unusual restraint in a genre known for excess. His tasteful rumbling similarly complemented the hard-rocking hits “No One Like You,” “Big City Nights,” and “Blackout.” Even though there’s a full quintet on “The Zoo,” it’s Buchholz’s bass that propels the song’s slow-burning throb. Similarly, his understated playing allowed a ballad like “Wind of Change” to soar to Number One on charts around the world.

Scorpions had already been going for years with another bassist when Buchholz, who was born Jan. 19, 1950 in Hanover, West Germany, joined. He made his recorded debut with the group on their second LP, Fly to the Rainbow (1974). The group struggled to attract a large audience throughout much of the Seventies but finally hit on the right formula (and getting better international distribution for their records) in 1979 with the release of Lovedrive, the band’s first LP with lead guitarist Matthias Jabs. Buchholz had studied lighting and engineering at Hannover University and had cofounded a company, Rock Sound, a year earlier, where he provided backlines to bands, including the Scorpions.

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