Robert Quine's website is reporting that the former lead guitarist of Richard Hell And The Voidoids died this past weekend at the age of 61. Richard Hell's website is confirming this news, and speculation about the circumstances are posted there. As there has been no official announcement regarding Quine's passing we'll hold off on posting a cause for the time being.

In addition to his groundbreaking work in the NYC punk scene with Hell and the Voidoids, Quine also recorded with the likes of Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Brian Eno, John Zorn, Matthew Sweet, Lloyd Cole and many others. In addition to his own musical ventures, Quine was known as a musical archivist of some note. The 2001 Velvet Underground release The Quine Tapes was a 3-CD collection of live VU performances recorded by Quine on a portable cassette tape recorder. Quine is not known to have left any survivors, as his wife died in 2003.

Our deepest condolences go out to Robert's friends and loved ones.