Andy Bickers, the saxophonist who spent more than three decades performing with legendary Australian rock band Cold Chisel, has passed away following a battle with cancer. The band announced Bickers’ passing on Friday and extended their condolences; they described the musician as an integral part of their journey and a cherished member of their extended family.Cold Chisel shared the news on social media, honouring Bickers’ significant contributions. “Our much-loved sax player of more than 30 years, Andy Bickers, passed away this morning after a hard-fought battle with cancer,” the Instagram post read. The band continued with an emotional reflection on their relationship with the musician. “Andy was our brother: an incredible musician and a great person to be out on the road or out on the town with. His valuable contribution onstage to songs like Rising Sun, Saturday Night and My Baby will be sorely missed. Our hearts break for his wife Lisa and his son Rudy,” the band concluded.
Tributes from fellow musicians and collaborators
Frontman Jimmy Barnes also shared a heartfelt tribute reflecting on the decades they spent touring together and the depth of their friendship. “Andy also toured many times with me, playing soul and rock shows. We were friends not only because he was a great player, but he was funny, intelligent, and most importantly, he was a good man. Lots of love to Lisa and Rudy. You will be sadly missed, Andy,” Barnes wrote.Peter Garrett, the lead singer of Midnight Oil, another band with whom Bickers had collaborated extensively, also offered a farewell. “Vale much loved sax player for the Oils and so many other artists – Andy Bickers – who left us today after a long illness. Our thoughts are with his wife Lisa and son Rudy,” Garrett wrote. He highlighted one of Bickers’ final performances. “One of Andy’s final gigs was leading the brass section in the climax of this tribute to Rob Hirst at the 2026 APRA Awards, where he played with his signature power and passion,” the post concluded.
Saxophonist Andy Bickers became a key part of Cold Chisel’s live performances, contributing to some of the band’s most iconic songs.Image credit (Instagram)
Andy Bickers’ musical journey and career
According to nine. com, originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Bickers developed his passion for Australian music while at university after watching footage of an iconic tour. The musician relocated first to Melbourne and later to Sydney, where he worked extensively on the live music circuit. His breakthrough came when he received an invitation to join a touring band, an opportunity that eventually led to him joining Cold Chisel, where he remained a core member for more than three decades.Beyond his work with Cold Chisel, Bickers established himself as a highly sought-after session and touring musician performing alongside some of the biggest names in the music industry. His collaborations included work with Midnight Oil, Silverchair, The Eagles, Don Henley, Diesel, Powderfinger, You Am I, Pete Murray and Vika and Linda, demonstrating his versatility and respected standing within the broader music community.Bickers is survived by his wife Lisa and son Rudy, to whom the tributes from his musical colleagues have been directed.