Finnish melodic metallers AMBERIAN DAWN have announced via their official Facebook page that ex-bass player Tommi Kuri has passed away. You can read the statement from guitarist and keyboard player Tuomas Seppälä below:

“Some tragic and sad news. Tommi Kuri, our ex-bassist has passed away. This shocking news hit all of us really hard.

Tommi was a kind man and always tried to help other people too. He was one of the founding members of Amberian Dawn and played on 3 three albums. Tommi was also one of the key characters who helped AD on it’s early steps and in the early years he was also kind of managing the band. Tommi was always the guy who kept the wheels rolling and took care of the important matters and band members too.

Tommi’s spirit will live on in all of us who knew him and also in music of all the bands he played with.

” I knew that he had some health issues and that’s why he was forced to leave AD back in 2011. He did it with heavy heart. But nobody knew how serious his condition was until now when we got this dramatic news. In fact I saw him only a couple of days ago and he was really acting like he always did: in a funny, joyful and helpful way.

Tommi always cared deeply about his friends and his loved ones. Band members were like family to him and we all also loved him very much.

Tommi was also my mentor at the beginning of my music career and also during his whole existence on this planet. He was the person who invited me to play keyboards in Virtuocity- band. That was the first real band I was playing with. After that he encouraged me to start a band of my own, which was later named as Amberian Dawn. Without him I wouldn’t ever start my own band.

Tommi was one of the most beautiful and caring persons I’ve ever known.

I’ll miss you buddy, Rest In Peace. “

–Tuomas”