Michael Jackson’s Thriller songwriter Rod Temperton dies aged 66 after cancer battle

Rod Temperton, the acclaimed songwriter behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller, has died at the age of 66.

The British musician, who hailed from Cleethorpes, passed away in London last week following a ‘brief but aggressive’ battle with cancer.

Jon Platt, chairman of music publisher Warner/Chappell, said in a statement: “His family is devastated and request total privacy at this, the saddest of sad times.”

The iconic songwriter worked with artists including Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Anita Baker and Herbie Hancock.

In 1979, Temerton was recruited by Jones to write a number of songs for Jackson’s first album in four years, Off the Wall.

After writing tracks including Rock With You, Temperton then penned the title track for 1982’s Thriller, which went on to become the biggest-selling album of all time.

He also had a career as a full-time musician in the 1970s, performing as part of funk band Heatwave, for whom he wrote Boogie Nights and Always & Forever.