A BRITISH rock legend who spearheaded legendary group The Damned left a mammoth fortune for his family following his tragic death.
Iconic guitarist Brian James left more than half a million pounds to his beloved wife in his will after his death in March at the age of 74.
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Documents reveal the musician left his estate worth £508,321 after deductions to his spouse.
The punk icon also passed on his cherry red Gibson guitar to his son Charlie.
Brian made a request to be buried at sea when he eventually passed away in his will dated December 2017.
The punk rocker’s body was laid to rest on the ocean floor off the coast of Newhaven, East Sussex.
Nine friends and family — including his widow Minna — sailed out from Eastbourne to witness the burial on April 28.
It followed a small memorial service at a church near the couple’s home in Brighton.
Minna told The Sun: “It was a beautiful day and the sea was calm.
“We’ve been together since I was 18, so it was very emotional.
“A burial at sea is pretty unusual, but it was in his will so we had to do it.”
A local funeral firm had to apply for a certificate from the Marine Management Organisation.
The musician died at the age of 74 on March 6.
A source said: ‘’Brian now sleeps with the fishes, which is what he wished for before he died.
“He was a true original in life and has carried that on in death.
‘’The spirit of punk never left him and he was adamant he wanted his final resting place to be at sea.
‘’A few loved ones went out on the boat for around three hours and watched as his coffin was dropped into the drink.’’
TRAGIC LOSS
When he died, a statement posted on his Facebook page said: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James.
The iconic musician, who played with icons including Iggy Pop and Black Sabbath during his stellar career, passed away on Thursday.
Brian, who was remembered as a “pioneer and true gentleman”, was globally recognised for his role in the band The Damned.
He was hailed as the writer of the first ever UK punk single New Rose.
After helping to form the Damned, Brian left to found Tanz Der Youth, before he formed The Lords of the New Church with Stiv Bators.
The pair went onto produce three successful studio albums and hit singles such as Open Your Eyes, Dance with Me, and Method to My Madness.
But Brian didn’t stop there.
He went on to The Dripping Lips and the Brian James Gang which created more solo albums.
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