Jack Bruce was grateful for the "miraculous" liver transplant which reinvigorated his life in the months before his passing.
The Cream legend – who passed away at his home in Suffolk, East Anglia yesterday (25.10.14) aged 71 – spoke earlier this year about the operation that had given him an "extra lease on life".
In one of his last ever interviews, he exclusively told BANG Showbiz owner Rick Sky: "The transplant was incredible. It gave me a miraculous extra lease on life. All the time since has just been a wonderful gift. I’m a very lucky man."
His operation inspired him to return to music after he had to quit in 2003 because of his devastating health issues after being diagnosed with liver cancer, as a result of former drug abuse.
This year he released his first solo album in almost 10 years, ‘Silver Rails’, after being inspired by a close friend to get back into the studio.
Speaking about his last LP, he said: "I kind of fell out of love with the recording process and life got in the way … Anyway this friend had been really good to me over the years and had my back.
"He suggested, ‘Would you fancy doing a studio album?’ and I hadn’t really thought about it. But then when I thought what a great time to do that because I’ve had this amazing life in music and I can look back over that and also kind of sideways, if you know what I mean.
"It turned out to be exactly the right thing to do. Everything just fell into place …. it was like magic."
Meanwhile, Jack’s fellow rock stars have been taking to Twitter to pay tribute to the legend following his death.
Queen’s Brian May wrote: "RIP Jack Bruce. So sad to hear this great pioneering rock musician is gone. Inspiring to us all. I’ll be listening to BADGE tonight. Bri (sic)."
Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones posted a photo of Jack in his younger years alongside the caption: "Rest in peace jack Bruce, OG. (sic)"
However, his former Cream bandmates Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker are yet to speak out following the tragic news.
Jake Bruce was grateful for ‘miraculous’ liver transplant
