Rock photographer Andrew MacNaughtan dies on assignment with Rush

Toronto photographer Andrew MacNaughtan passed away suddenly in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He was only 47 years old and apparently suffered a heart attack while on a photo shoot with Rush. MacNaughtan had documented the iconic Canadian rock band for years and a joint statement on Rush’s Facebook page said: “We’re deeply shocked and heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of our close friend and longtime photographer, Andrew MacNaughtan. He was a sweet person and a very talented artist. Words cannot describe how much he will be missed.”

MacNaughtan had photographed the Who’s Who of the Canadian music and entertainment industry and was a three-time Juno winner for album design. He also won a fourth Juno for Music DVD of the Year for Rush in Rio. The photographer’s most recent work was a book called Grace: Africa in Photographs, with proceeds going to Art Gives Hope, a charity he founded in 2006.

Update Jan 31st: Rush drummer Neil Peart has posted a touching memorial to MacNaughtan on his website: http://www.neilpeart.net/news/andrewm.html