Rick Huxley, Dave Clark Five Bassist, Dies at 72

Bassist Rick Huxley, one of the founding members of the Dave Clark Five, has died, The Associated Press reports. He was 72.

Huxley, who suffered from emphysema after years of smoking, died Monday. Clark called the news "devastating" on Tuesday.

Huxley, a native of England, played on the band's signature hits including "Bits and Pieces" and "Glad All Over"  during the mid-1960s when they rivaled the Beatles in popularity. Dave Clark Five was part of the British invasion that also included the Rolling Stones and The Kinks, among others. Like the Beatles, the Dave Clark Five even starred in their own movie — Catch Us If You Can (known stateside as Having a Wild Weekend).

Remember other celebrities we lost this year

The group had a huge following in the United States thanks to 18 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. However, the pop rock band faded after several years when harder-edged bands such as the Doors and Cream became popular. The Dave Clark Five disbanded in 1970 after 12 years together. Huxley went onto pursue a career in real estate but also stayed involved in the music industry.

The Dave Clark Five was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.