Entertainment

Asthma attack claims the life of star guitarist Phil Emmanuel at just 65

May 26, 2018

Celebrated Australian guitarist Phil Emmanuel pictured playing a show in Brisbane in 2012. Source: YouTube/wollemipineontwitter

Phil Emmanuel, who alongside his brother Tommy has long been regarded one of Australia’s finest guitarists, has died suddenly at the age of 65.

Fairfax Media reported that the much-admired musician passed away after suffering an asthma attack on Thursday night while staying in Parkes, New South Wales, with his youngest brother, Darcy. Darcy announced his brother’s passing on Friday, telling Fairfax that Phil had had shows planned for Friday night and throughout the weekend, and that friends had attempted to resuscitate Phil when he collapsed at Darcy’s home, before paramedics arrived.

Darcy Emmanuel told Fairfax that he had contacted brothers Chris and Tommy, who are currently touring in London, as well as sister Veronica. It’s a fresh blow for the Emmanuel siblings, who lost their sister Virginia on April 14 at the age of 69.

Phil Emmanuel played with Tommy as the Emmanuel Brothers and was described as Australia’s best electric guitar player, having performed alongside international stars ranging from Dolly Parton and Willy Nelson to Hank B. Marvin, Chet Atkins and Jimmy Barnes. Phil and Tommy’s rendition of the Last Post is particularly beloved by many, with Phil playing it at RSLs for veterans’ enjoyment.

But the brothers weren’t the only musicians among the siblings, with Chris playing drums and Virginia the slide guitar. The four Emmanuels, who grew up in Parkes, where Darcy still lives, performed together as the Emmanuel Quartet, the Midget Surfaries and The Trailblazers, with Phil making his stage debut at just nine years of age.

“Phil and Tommy used to captivate audiences by showing off their skills – one particular show-stopper involved the pair playing the one guitar at the same time, as was captured in a family photo when Phil was about 14 years old and Tommy was 11,” the Parkes Champion-Post reported in September. “Phil played the lead guitar on one end and Tommy played rhythm on the other end.”

Darcy told the Champion-Post at the time that although the brothers still performed the trick from time to time, Phil remained the only one of the family who could play his guitar behind his head.

Just in April, Phil posted a happy video of himself playing guitar to the butcher birds that perched on his verandah. “This little butcherbird never ceases to amaze me,” he wrote on Facebook. “I’m now feeding his great grandchildren. They still sing to me but not like their great grandad.”

In March he posted about how much he was looking forward to being part of a Bon Scott Tribute Tour that’s set to start in early July in honour of the late AC/CD frontman. He is survived by his wife Amanda and children Jessie Maree, Jamie Lee, Georgia Dee and Marshall Travis.