Famed guitarist Slash announces death of stepdaughter in heartfelt post: 'Sweet soul'

Slash, legendary guitarist of the iconic rock band Guns N' Roses, announced the death of his stepdaughter in a social media post on Sunday.

Lucy-Bleu Knight "passed away peacefully" in Los Angeles on Friday, July 19, the musician announced. She was 25.

"Lucy-Bleu was an incredibly talented artist, a passionate dreamer, and a charming, lovable, sweet soul," the musician, born Saul Hudson, said to his 4.2 million followers.

It's not immediately clear how Knight, whose parents are Meegan Hodges and Mark Knight, died. According to Entertainment Weekly, Slash and Hodges began dating in the late 1980s but called it quits. They reignited their relationship in 2015. Hodges also confirmed the news on her social media account.

Lucy-Bleu Knight is also survived by her stepmother, Samantha Somers Knight, as well as her sister, Scarlet Knight. She was also the stepsister of London and Cash Hudson.

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The family asked fans not to speculate about Lucy-Bleu Knight's death

Officials said Knight passed away at a private residence in Los Angeles County, according to county medical examiner records. However, no additional information related to the cause of death has been revealed.

A photo with a cryptic message appeared on her Instagram, @lulubleuu, following her family's announcement.

Relatives, friends and fans responded to Slash's tribute post by offering condolences to him and his loved ones. In a statement, the family asked the public not to speculate about the circumstances surrounding Knight's passing.

"The family asks for privacy at this time and requests that social media speculation be kept to a minimum as they grieve and process the devastating loss," the post said.

Before the announcement, Slash, now 59 years old, informed his fans that selected dates for his "S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival were canceled due to "unforeseen circumstances."

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.