Andrew Lloyd Webber has led tributes to a “loved and deeply admired” Woolwich-born musician who has died.

Jon Hiseman, whose latest band tour was cut short due to health problems, passed away at 73 years old on June 12, nine days before his birthday.

He was best known for leading bands Colosseum, Colosseum II, and Tempest while being a “pioneering” jazz-rock musician alongside his wife of 51 years Barbara Thompson.

In May, Mr Hiseman was rushed to hospital in Germany following a tour with his new band JCM after it became clear that he was feeling unwell.

Then, a month later, doctors diagnosed him with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumour, a condition which also affected the late Tessa Jowell.

His son Marcus Hiseman said: “We’re obviously feeling deep sorrow and sadness. My father was somebody who was loved deeply and admired as well, but as a father he was a wonderful man.

“I think his whole life has been not just music but the business of music. I think just his integrity and his way of doing things, I think he was so well-respected, was a big influence on me.

“He is a very impressive character, no question.

“You can look at a lot of the comments from their fanbase on their Facebook page.

"All the comments coming from the Facebook page are very extensive about what their music meant to each of their fans.”

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: "This is a huge shock. Jon Hiseman's magnificent playing underpinned my Variations album and he was a key member of the original Cats and Starlight Express bands. I will be forever in debt to this phenomenal musician and great human being."

On Facebook Clem Clempson, a former colleague of his, wrote: “Hard to believe that this could come to pass just a few weeks after we were playing together onstage with JCM.

“For all who worked with him he was a constant guiding light, inspirational and indefatigable, a true leader who will be greatly missed by his many colleagues and legions of fans.”

Several others have left heartfelt thoughts and tributes to Mr Hiseman on a Facebook fan page for both the Colosseum and JCM.

“My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Babs [Barbara Thompson], his family, Colosseum and all the fans around the world who loved Jon.”

Mr Hiseman was born in Woolwich on June 21, 1944 and became passionate about percussion during his early teens after studying the piano and violin.

He turned professional in 1966, replacing Ginger Baker in the Graham Bond Organisation, before leading innovative jazz-rock groups – Colosseum, Colosseum II, and Tempest.

A year later he married his wife, saxophonist and composer Barbara Thompson, and moved to Sutton in 1977 where he set up a recording studio there five years later and continued his career.

In early 2018, he released the album Heroes with his band JCM.

He is survived by his wife, who is 70, alongside his two children – Marcus and Ana-Gracey – and his four grandchildren.