Noise 11 reports that Jim ‘Motorhead’ Sherwood from FRANK ZAPPA’S MOTHERS OF INVENTION died on Christmas Day at the age of 69.

Sherwood was the sax player and provided vocal sound effects for the Mothers and played on the Zappa albums: 200 Motels, Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Weasals Ripped My Flesh and We’re Only In It For The Money.

He also appeared in Zappa’s films: 200 Motels, Video From Hell and Uncle Meat.

After the demise of The Mothers, Sherwood occasionally got together with other ex-Mothers and performed as The Grandmothers.

Sherwood joined the Mothers Of Invention initially as a roadie and contributed sound effects to the first album, Freak Out, in 1966. In 1967 he became a full-time member of the band.

Jim’s nickname was Motorhead, named because he was always repairing old cars, trucks and motorbikes.