RIP James Atkins, former Hammerbox bassist

Photo courtesy of the James Atkins GoFundMe page

According to his GoFundMe page, "Yesterday at 12:45pm James Atkins left us. He heroically fought a mighty difficult battle with esophageal cancer and died peacefully, surrounded by about 10 loved ones, listening to AC/DC, Replacements and Motorhead."

He was 49.

Atkins is pictured fourth from the right, surrounded by band members who played at his benefits in December in Seattle. He formerly played bass for Hammerbox, which performed at the gigs along with The Gits, Selene Vigil-Wilk of 7 Year Bitch, Alcohol Funnycar, Coffin Break, Gretta Harley and Stag.

"Everybody that showed up, the audience... everybody brought something and it was all positive and you just felt it in the room. It was an unbelievable experience that I get chills thinking about it right now, I do," Vigil-Wilk said of the benefits in an interview last month with There's Something Hard in There.

Hammerbox with Atkins, far right. (CZ Records)