Xava Drago, lead singer of the Mexican rock band Coda, died in Mexico City on Thursday (Aug. 21) after a battle with stomach cancer. He was 56 years old. His bandmates shared the news through the group\u2019s social media accounts.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur hearts are broken. With deep sadness, we want to share with you that our beloved Xava has passed away,\u201d read the post \u2014 which was written in Spanish \u2014 on the band\u2019s Instagram account<\/a>. \u201cWe send our love to his entire family and wish with all our hearts that they soon find comfort and peace. We are with you. Xava was always a warrior \u2014 he loved what he did, always intense, always passionate.\u201d<\/p>\n More from Billboard<\/strong><\/p>\n The statement continued: \u201cWe are profoundly grateful to have shared life and the stage with him; it has been a great honor and an incredible privilege. We want to thank the fans, friends, the media, the doctors, Xava\u2019s family and everyone who gave their hearts and support to stand by him shoulder-to-shoulder on this difficult journey \u2014 a journey that, sadly, has now come to an end.\u201d<\/p>\n The singer, whose real name was Salvador Aguilar, was diagnosed with stomach cancer about a year ago. Since then, he had been sharing his journey with his followers. Earlier this August, he bid farewell to public life after doctors had exhausted all possible treatment options.<\/p>\n \u201cTo my family, fans, bandmates, and friends, my endless thanks. From the dawn of time at daybreak, you showed me your unmatched beauty and that pure, unconditional love,\u201d read a message shared on his Facebook account<\/a> on Aug. 13.<\/p>\n As the lead singer of Coda, Xava Drago became one of the biggest icons of Mexican rock in the \u201890s. The band\u2019s 1993 hit \u201cT\u00f3came\u201d opened the door to a string of successes. In 1994, the song \u201cA\u00fan\u201d dropped, featured on the album Veinte Para las Doce, which solidified their place in the scene. That album also delivered other memorable tracks such as \u201cSin Ti No Se Continua\u201d and \u201cEternamente.\u201d<\/p>\n On Aug. 16, Xava Drago released his final solo project, an album titled Gracias Infinitas, which he recorded during the last months of his illness as a way to thank his fans and say goodbye to music.<\/p>\n Best of Billboard<\/strong><\/p>\n Sign up for Billboard’s Newsletter<\/a>. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n