Elton John and Billy Joel Bassist Dies From Suspected Suicide

08/16/2012
. (TMZ) Robert Wayne Birch, a bass guitarist who played with Elton John and Billy Joel among many other huge artists, is dead after apparently having shot and killed himself Wednesday morning ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Birch was found around the corner from his home, dead with a gunshot wound from the head. We're told all signs point to a self-inflicted wound.

We're told authorities have not found a suicide note and there were no apparent signs of drug use.

Birch has been playing with Elton John since 1992, and was also involved in the biggest single of all time, "Candle in the Wind 1997."

Birch has also performed with legends like Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Cher, Sting, The Backstreet Boys, The Spice Girls, Clint Black and many others.

Here's Birch during one of his final live performances last year on David Letterman. more on this story

TMZ submitted this story.
Copyright TMZ - Excerpted here with permission.