Legendary Bluesman Johnny Winter Dies While On Tour, Age 70 (VIDEO)

Legendary Blues guitarist Johnny Winter has died. He was 70.

Winter was on an extensive tour of Europe. His last performance was Saturday at the Lovely Days Fest in Wiesen, Austria.

Winter's representative Carla Parisi confirmed the news to the Associated Press that Winter died in a Zurich hotel room on Wednesday. A statement on his Facebook page reads: "His (Winter's) wife, family and bandmates are all saddened by the loss of their loved one and one of the world's finest guitarists.

An official statement with more details shall be issued at the appropriate time."

Winter was born in Mississippi on February 24, 1944, but grew up in Beaumont, Texas and was a gifted musician from a young age. He and brother Edgar Winter (of the Edgar Winter Group) rose to fame in the '60s and '70s.

Winter was one of most popular live acts of his time, and his signature fast and loud blues guitar solos attracted fans far and wide, but his addiction to heroin and later issues with alcohol and prescription medication, including methadone, nearly derailed him.

In a 2010 interview with Guitar World he said, "I was not in the best shape for a while there. I was going through some really difficult personal issues, and I started taking prescription drugs to help with the problems on the advice of a doctor. But I ended up taking too many prescription drugs for too long. Combined with drinking, the adverse effects just got worse and worse. But I feel great now."

He was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988.

This year, Winter was in the midst of a comeback – his tour, a documentary chronicling his life and a four CD set of recordings were all part of Winter's celebration of turning 70.

In a recent interview with JournalStar.com, was asked how he'd like to be remembered.

He replied: "I just hope I'm remembered as a good blues musician."

Check out Winter at his '70 best, performing the Rick Derringer penned classic, "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo":

via USA Today