Sadly, Mojo Nixon has passed away. He was 66. Mojo passed away from a cardiac event on the Outlaw Country Cruise, where he was working as a performer. As you likely know, Mojo Nixon was one of the first artists to blend country with punk rock. his biggest hit was "Elvis Everywhere" and he cut an entire album with Jello Biafra called Prairie Home Invasion. You can see some of Mojo's music below. We send out condolences to Mojo's family, friends, and fans.
Sadly, Wayne Kramer of The MC5 has passed away. He was 75 and passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His passing was announced on Instagram in a post that reads simply, “Wayne S. Kramer “PEACE BE WITH YOU” April 30, 1949 - February 2. 2024”. As you know, MC5 were incalculably important to punk rock and music as a whole. We send our condolences to Kramer's family, friends, and fans.
Manny Martinez, who was one of the early Misfits has passed away. Martinez was on the band's first single, "Cough/Cool" and was on the cover along side Danzig and Jerry Only. Martinez is credited with introducing Danzig to Jerry Only after original/early Misfits bassist Diane DiPiazza left the band. Martinez played about eight shows with the Misfits before leaving the group. You can hear his contributions to the band below.
Dot Homler, the drummer for Thotcrime, has passed away. The band released a statement on Instagram which reads,
”Earlier this week we were informed that Dot unexpectedly passed away.
Dot was not only an incredibly talented musician, but an irreplaceable friend. Hir enthusiasm and humour lit up every room sie entered, and hir relentless positivity was an inspiration to all of us. We are all absolutely heartbroken by this loss.
At this time we would prefer not to engage with any discussion regarding the future of the band. We will have more to share once we have all had time to process what’s happened. We ask that you please respect the privacy of hir family and friends during this difficult time. We will love you forever.”
Dot played on all of Thotcrime's releases, including their 2022 album D1G1T4L_DR1FT and their single with Ozigiri, "EXDXM (Electronic Death Machine)" which came out earlier this year. Dot also played in Sacred Fawn, Vor Pilatus, and DECIMAL. We send our condolences to Dot’s family, friends, and fans.
Sadly, Yusuke Chiba of Japan's Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, Rosso, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, and The Birthday has passed away. He had been battling esophageal cancer at the time of his passing, in late November. He was 55. The band is planning to hold a public memorial, and will announce further details soon.
Sadly, Travis Dopp of Small Brown Bike has passed away. He had been battling cancer for some time. The band released a statement:
"It’s with heavy hearts that we share the unbearable news that our brother Travis John Dopp passed away yesterday after his long battle with cancer.
If you were lucky enough to know Trav, you know that he was an extraordinary, energetic force and his presence will live on through his music and through those he loved. In any given room he was always the funniest, warmest, and most magnetic person, while also being a raw, vulnerable, and powerful force of nature. He pushed us to expand the boundaries of our band. He could light up a room with a story and bring us to tears laughing. Standing by his side, on stage or in life, felt like having a superpower. Like you could show up exactly as you are with no apologies or hesitation, and lead with your heart on your sleeve and your fist in the air.
The brotherhood of SBB began back in kindergarten when Mike and Trav first met and became best friends. Since then, our entire lives have been inextricably linked, and through this band our family has grown in ways we couldn’t have ever imagined. We’re so thankful to have shared this lifetime with our beautiful brother Travis and will carry his presence in us forever.
His love for his family and friends was and forever will be unrestrained, fierce, and as deep as the ocean. He would truly do anything to protect and support those he loved. We’d be remiss not to specifically mention Chilly, Trav’s brother who was essentially the unseen member of SBB. Our hearts are with the Dopp family and know that they are eternally grateful for your support over the past few years.
Through his music, Trav wanted to lay bare every part of his being to connect with you all, and to hopefully make us all feel less alone. The outpouring of love you gave him in return meant the world to him. Thank you all for your love and support of the band over the years and throughout Trav’s battle with cancer.
In Trav’s words from his song The Sound of Joy, “Be thankful and grateful for this life. Repeat the sound of joy.”
Cayle Sain, the drummer for Twitching Tongues, has passed away. He passed away on December 10 at the age of 31. No cause of death has been made public. The band announced his passing in a statement on Instagram which reads,
Our beloved friend, brother, and drummer Cayle Sain has passed away.
Aside from his unmatched talent, Cayle had the biggest heart and was the most loyal and caring friend anyone could ask for. If you spent one minute with him, he loved you.
We are moved by the outpouring of love and support we’ve seen for him today and we promise you that it would have meant everything to him.
His charisma, his raw power on the kit, and his unbeatable comedic timing will never be replaced or forgotten.
Rest in peace, and goodbye for now.”
Cayle Sain also played in Downpresser, Mizery, God’s Hate, Fuming Mouth, Betrayal, Ghostemane, If I Die First, and Troncale. We send our condolences to Cayle Sain’s family, friends, and fans.
Scott “Top Ten” Kempner, guitarist and founding member of The Dictators and The Del-Lords, has passed away. He was 69 and passed from complications related to early-onset dementia on November 29 in a nursing home in Connecticut. Scott Kempner formed the Dictators with Andy Shernoff and Ross Friedman in 1972 and formed the Del-Lords in 1982 after the Dictators split in 1979. He also played in The Brandos, Helen Wheels Band, Little Kings, and Paradise Brothers as well as releasing three solo albums. We send our condolences to Scott Kempner’s family, friends, and fans.
Shane MacGowan of the Pogues has passed away. He was 65 and had recently been hospitalized for viral encephalitis. He passed early this morning with his family around him according to a statement written by his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, his sister Siobhan, and his father Maurice, which was released on the band’s Instagram page. The statement reads in full,
”It is with the deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan. Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning (30 November, 2023) with his wife Victoria and family by his side. Prayers and the last rites were read which gave comfort to his family. He is survived by his wife Victoria, his sister Siobhan, and his father Maurice, family and a large circle of friends. Further details will be announced shortly but the family ask for privacy at this very sad time.”
We send our condolences to Shane MacGowan’s family, friends, and fans.
Kevin “Geordie” Walker, guitarist of Killing Joke, has passed away. He died at age 64 after suffering a stroke. The band released a statement on Instagram that reads,
”It is with extreme sadness we confirm that at 6:30am on 26th November 2023 in Prague, Killing Joke's legendary guitarist Kevin “Geordie” Walker passed away after suffering a stroke, he was surrounded by family. We are devastated. Rest In Peace brother.”
He joined the band in 1979 and played on all of the band’s releases, the last of which was the Lord of Chaos EP in 2022. We send our condolences to Geordie Walker’s family, friends, and fans.
Sadly, Bennett Kent Stacks of Scream has passed away. He was battling metastatic cancer.
The band stated: "We are heartbroken to share that our drummer Bennett Kent Stacks passed away this morning after a bout with metastatic cancer. Kent is the original heartbeat of Scream. Though we have had to continue on without him before, we have always known Kent is irreplaceable. He was one of a kind. In addition to being a truly unique drummer, Kent was also an accomplished fisherman, skilled carpenter, and avid train enthusiast. Kent also played in prominent punk and harDCore bands including The Suspects, Spitfires United, Alleged Bricks and more throughout his life. He also branched out to other genres, playing with The Daryl Davis Band and The Old Dominion Trio. He is survived by his wife of 40 years Andrea, daughter Jennifer, brothers Kurt, William and Henry and a host of band mates, friends and fans."
Matthew Stewart, the trumpet player for Streetlight Manifesto, has passed away. He passed on September 10 at age 41. The band released a statement on Instagram which reads in part,
”Today, Sunday, September 10th, 2023, at around 3:30pm, our friend, trumpet player, and long time Streetlight family member Matthew Brandon Stewart passed away from natural causes. He was surrounded by family and friends. He was 41 years old.
Some of you know Matt strictly from our records or live shows, as a trumpet player whose talent was undeniable; raw, powerful and alive. His playing cut through when it needed to cut through, sang when it was necessary to sing and sat perfectly in the mix when that was what was asked of it. Today you lost a musical powerhouse.
Others of you know Matt a little better, as many of you have interacted with him directly, be it online or after (or before) a show. He was always roaming around, outside of clubs, backstage, next to the bus. And he often had a stranger with him. Whether it was a fan, excited to meet him, a local crew member shooting the shit with a friendly musician or a random homeless dude, sharing a smoke. He was never rude to anyone he met and was quick to make new acquaintances feel comfortable. Today you lost a friendly, wandering spirit, as likely to talk your ear off about jazz as he was to put your name on the guest list of a sold out show."
Matthew Stewart joined the band in 2007 and played on 2007’s Somewhere in the Between , 2010’s 99 Songs of Revolution , and 2013’s The Hands That Thieve . We send our condolences to Matthew Stewart’s family, friends, and fans.
Steve Harwell, who sang for Smash mouth from 1994-2021, has passed away. He was 56. He passed away at his home in Idaho due to liver failure. We send our best wishes to Harwell's family.
Sadly, this weekend Robert Becerra of the Stains passed away. The cause of deathas liver cancer, which he was battling to his last day. He was 64. Becerra inspired many artists including Greg Ginn, Greg Hetson, the Dead Kennedys, and many, many more. we send our best wishes to Becerra's family.
Sadly, according to Cherry Nishida of Zouo, Sakevi Yokoyama, founder and frontman of GISM has passed away. Few details are available, but we will update you as things develop. Sakevi famously sang for GISM, who recorded a groundbreaking punk and metal mélange. He also was a renown visual artist. We send our condolences to Yokoyama's family.
Sadly, last Wednesday John Kezdy of The Effigies was killed in a bike accident. He was 64. Apparently, an Amazon delivery van illegally stopped in a bike lane on Wednesday afternoon in the Chicago suburb of Glencoe. Kezdy collided with the van. Kezdy was taken to the hopsital but passed away shortly thereafter. The Glencoe Public Safety Department. stated “Based on the initial investigation, the bicyclist was traveling northbound on Sheridan Road past South Avenue when he struck the rear of a stopped Dodge Ram ProMaster." Kezdy was a regular cyclist and an attorney. We send Kezdy's family our best wishes.