Panic guitarist dies after battle with cancer

ATHENS, Ga. -- Michael "Mikey" Houser, guitarist and singer for the rock band Widespread Panic, died Saturday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 40.

Houser released a statement last month explaining his illness and saying he would not participate in its summer tour. His death was reported in The Athens Banner-Herald and on the band's Web site Sunday.

Widespread Panic, which developed a large, faithful following, is known for its blues-based music with long, improvisational passages and progressive percussions that attracted fans of "jam" bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish.