Respected and much loved guitarist Stuart (Chet) Fraser – a founding member of Noiseworks, long-term player in John Farnham’s band, and occasional guitarist in Jimmy Barnes’ band has died after battling lung cancer since 2017.
Fraser was such an integral part of Noiseworks, a band which featured some of the best musicians in the country and have produced a swag of incredible songs, such as ‘Take Me Back’, ‘Love Somebody’, ‘Touch’, ‘Freedom’, ‘Miles and Miles’ and ‘In My Youth’. The band sold in excess of 1.2 million albums with 15 hit singles.
“To my dear friend Stuart Fraser. It was a privilege to have been able to love you and be loved by you. I will miss you greatly,” said Noiseworks band mate Steve Balbi
“I’ve known Stuart since he was a young boy. He was one of the most beautiful souls I have ever met. The world will be a sadder place without you my friend,” Jimmy Barnes wrote on his Facebook page this morning
Daryl Braithwaite too posted a message. “My condolences to the family and friends of Stuart Fraser who died late Saturday after a long illness. He was a lovely man and such a fine guitarist, may he rest in peace.”
Stuart has also worked with Tom Jones, Ray Charles, Boz Scaggs, Kylie Minogue, Joe Camilleri, Tommy Emmanuel, Tina Arena, Olivia Newton-John, Nick Barker, Diesel, Daryl Braithwaite, Ross Wilson and David Hirschfelder to name a few, as well as working with Chong Lim on Dancing With The Stars and the Sydney Olympic Games.
Ross Wilson Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, Noiseworks and Diesel came together to play a benefit show for Fraser, organised by Support Act in 2017 after he had been diagnosed with cancer.
RIP Stuart Fraser