Hawkwind's Huw Langton dead at 61

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LONDON, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Huw Lloyd Langton, former guitarist for the British rockers Hawkwind, died of cancer last week at the age of 61.

Langton spent two years battling the disease and died Thursday at his home, the band said in a written statement.

"Huw was one of the great guitarists with an individual style and character," the statement said. "He is gone but never forgotten by any of us. He will live on in our music and in our hearts."

Hawkwind was described by the BBC as one of the more-venerable band in the rock game. They performed a 40th anniversary concert in 2009, during which Langton played a solo acoustic set.

Langton played on Hawkwind's 1970 debut album and then rejoined the band in 1979 for the next 10 years. The London native also played with Widowmaker and formed the Lloyd Langton Group in 1982.