A rock ‘n’ roll musician who played alongside legendary music stars including The Beatles will be remembered as an “accomplished perfectionist” who always put his family first.

Friends and relatives paid their last respects to bassist John Gustafson last night after he lost his battle with cancer earlier this month. He was 72.

The Liverpudlian earned huge acclaim in the music industry, performing with artists such as Shirley Bassey, Jerry Lee Lewis and Art Garfunkel.

He moved to Clifton Road, Whitstable, from London 23 years ago with his wife, Annie, and children Alice, 29, Lucy, 26, and Joe, 23.

His funeral service took place at Barham yesterday before a wake at The Three Horseshoes in Staplestreet, Faversham.

Annie said she met the guitarist as a teenager in a pub round the corner from a record studio she worked at.

But the relationship started four years later after a chance meeting through work. The couple remained together for the next 36 years.

She said: “I remember him chatting me up and being quite cheeky but we didn’t get together until I was 22.

“I was always aware of John. He was on my radar.

“He was accomplished and he was a perfectionist. He loved carpentry, cooking on the barbecue and everything to do with Liverpool Football Club.

“He would have done anything for us. His family were the most important thing to him.”

Daughter Lucy said: “He was the sweetest, most generous, loving father. He always had time to listen and he always had time to laugh.

“He never complained in the hardest of times, and only wanted us to be happy. We will miss him terribly.”

John’s brother, Tony, bought him his first guitar and taught him chord sequences on a piano.

Tony said: “He was a quick learner and played in groups with friends as a teenager.

John began his career at The Cavern Club with The Big Three where he struck up a friendship with The Beatles.

He played with the band on occasions and his group signed to Brian Epstein’s label on John Lennon’s recommendation.

He performed with The Merseybeats before fronting prog rock outfit Quatermass.

In the 1970s, he sang on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar.

He is best known to audiences for his stint in Roxy Music during the 1970s – particularly the distinctive bassline on Love is the Drug.

He featured on three studio albums for the band and was the only bassist to be offered the job full-time.

In his later career, he played with the Ian Gillan Band, Gordon Giltrap and The Pirates before releasing solo album Goose Grease in 1997.

He died on Friday, September 12.