Entertainment Music Alec John Such, Founding Bon Jovi Member and Bassist, Dead at 70: 'Always Wild and Full of Life' "We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such," Bon Jovi shared Sunday on Twitter of their former bassist and founding member By Glenn Garner Glenn Garner Instagram Twitter Glenn Garner is a Writer/Reporter who works heavily with PEOPLE's Movies and TV verticals. Since graduating from Northern Arizona University with a dual major in journalism and photography, he got his professional start at OUT Magazine, The Advocate and Teen Vogue, and he's since consistently kept his finger on the pulse of the LGBTQ community. His first book The Guncle Guide was released in 2020 and was featured on Katie Couric's list of 100 recommended books of the year. People Editorial Guidelines Published on June 5, 2022 06:04 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Alec John Such, a bassist and one of the founding members of Bon Jovi, has died. He was 70. The Grammy Award winning band announced Such's death Sunday with a heartfelt tribute on Twitter. They did not disclose a cause of death. "We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such," they shared. "He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band." Bon Jovi to Embark on 15-Stop North American Arena Tour in April "To be honest, we found our way to each other thru him - He was a childhood friend of Tico [Torres, drummer] and brought Richie [Sambora, guitarist and co-songwriter] 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," the band wrote. A source close to Sambora, 62, tells PEOPLE, "He and Richie were very close. Richie never had a bad word to say about him." The band also shared a video tribute, featuring a live performance of their 1988 song "Blood On Blood," cut with photos and footage from over the years of Such with his bandmates, including singer Jon Bon Jovi and keyboardist David Bryan. "Now to my bandmates, we had so many great times together and I just love them to death, always will," Such said in one throwback clip, adding in another: "The Bon Jovi band is definitely a family." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Paul Natkin/Getty Born Nov. 14, 1951, in Yonkers, New York, Such was tapped by Bon Jovi, 60, and Bryan, 60, to form the band in 1983. He later quit in 1994 and was replaced by Hugh McDonald. Such and Sambora reunited with the band in Feb. 2018, when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. RELATED VIDEO: Richie Sambora Has No Regrets About His Controversial Decision to Leave Bon Jovi: 'My Daughter Needed Me to Be Around' "When Jon Bon Jovi called me up and asked me to be in his band many years ago, I soon realized how serious he was and he had a vision that he wanted to bring us to," Such said during the ceremony. "And I am only too happy to have been a part of that vision."