Bob Biggs founder of Slash Records has passed away

Bob Biggs, the founder of Los Angeles independent label Slash Records and visual artist has passed away at age 74. He passed on October 17 due to complications from Lewy body dementia. Bob Biggs worked at Californian punk magazine Slash and started the Slash Records label in 1978. Slash Records put out music by The Germs, The Blasters, X, Los Lobos, Fear, Faith No More, Violent Femmes, and L7 among many others over the course of the label’s active years. Bob Biggs also created the burning “x” that serves as the cover for X’s 1980 debut album Los Angeles. He designed the cover of Faith No More’s 1987 album Introduce Yourself and co-directed the band’s “We Care a Lot” video and his artwork was used as the cover of 2014’s To Be Kind by Swans. We send our condolences to Bob Biggs’ family and friends.

Pierre Kezdy of Naked Raygun and Pegboy has passed away

Sadly, today news broke that Pierre Kezdy of Naked Raygun and Pegboy passed away. The cause of death was cancer. Kezdy was 58. We send our condolences to Kezdy's family and friends.

Eddie Van Halen has passed away

Eddie Van Halen guitarist and co-founder of hard rock band Van Halen passed away Tuesday, October 6 at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer. A statement from his son Wolfgang Van Halen reads,

“I can’t believe I’m having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning.

He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift.

My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss.

I love you so much, Pop.”

Eddie Van Halen co-founded Van Halen with his brother Alex and played on all of the band’s studio albums. He also worked with a variety of artists including KISS, Michael Jackson, and Black Sabbath. Van Halen released their twelfth studio album A Different Kind of Truth in 2012. We send our condolences to Eddie Van Halen’s family and friends.

Wade Allison of Iron Age has passed away

Wade Allison, guitarist of Iron Age, has passed away. A cause of death has not been revealed. Allison also played in Mammoth Grinder and Eternal Champion. Iron Age's last album was The Sleeping Eye from 2009. We send our condolences to Allison's family and friends.

Toots Hibbert has passed away

Sadly, news broke today that reggae icon Toots Hibbert, singer of Toots and the Maytals, passed away. He was 77. Recently, he had been placed in a medically induced coma due to complications from Covid-19. Hibbert's family released a statement: "It is with the heaviest of hearts to announce that Frederick Nathaniel ‘Toots’ Hibbert passed away peacefully tonight, surrounded by his family at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. The family and his management team would like to thank the medical teams and professionals for their care and diligence, and ask that you respect their privacy during their time of grief. Mr. Hibbert is survived by his wife of 39 years, Miss D, and his seven of eight children.” The group just released their first LP in about 10 years, Got to be Tough. We send our condolences to Hibberts' family, friends, and fans.

Riley Gale of Power Trip has passed away

Late last night, news broke the Riley Gale, frontman for Power Trip, had passed away. He was 34. The band issued a statement: "“It is with the greatest of sadness we must announce that our lead singer and brother Riley Gale passed away last night. Riley was a friend, a brother, a son. Riley was both a larger than life rock star and a humble and giving friend. He touched so many lives through his lyrics and through his huge heart. He treated everyone he met as a friend and he always took care of his friends. We will celebrate Riley’s life and never forget the great works of music, charity, and love that he left behind. You, the fans, meant so much to him, please know how special you are. If you have a memory of Riley please share it, no matter how small, as we remember him.”

We send our condolences to Gale's family, friends, and fans. The band's last studio album was Nightmare Logic in 2017.

Walter Lure has passed away

Sadly, Walter Lure of Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers has passed away. He was 71. His current band, the Waldos, issued a statement: "Walter was diagnosed with liver and lung cancer in July 2020, which spread rapidly and he died from complications related to the cancer at the age of 71, peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by family. He was much loved by all and respected for all he contributed to the world of music. He will be dearly missed." Lure was the last surviving member of the band that played on the seminal L.A.M.F. record. We send our condolences to Lure's family, friends, and fans.

Alan Peters, formerly of Agnostic Front, has passed away

Sadly, Alan Peters, who played bass in Agnostic Front, has passed away, Peters was in the band from 1987 to 1990 and played on the album Liberty And Justice For…. The band issued a statement: "Today was a very sad day. We lost a solid a brother, a good friend, and a past bandmate who was part of the magic and making of our Liberty And Justice For… LP. Alan Peters is no longer with us. We would often see each other here and there mostly in Dallas. Last time he didn’t make the show and we figured we’d catch him a few months later. Sadly that never happened. Our deepest condolences for the Peters family. Alan had deep roots in the Pittsburgh scene and NYHC scene. Rest In Peace my brother, you will not be forgotten…" We send our condolences to Peters' family.

Unwound bassist Vern Rumsey has passed away

Sadly, Vern Rumsey, bassist for the severely Post-Hardcore/Post-Punk band Unwound, passed away August 6. He was 47. More recently, Rumsey had played with Household Gods, who included David Pajo, Conan Neutron, and Lauren K. Newman. We send our condolences to Rumsey's family.

Chi Pig of SNFU has passed away

SNFU singer Ken Chinn, best known under the pseudonym Mr. Chi Pig, has passed away. He was 57. Chi Pig was born October 19 1962 in Edmonton, Alberta to German and Chinese parents as the youngest of 12 children. Growing up he was an avid skateboarder, punk rocker and artist. In 1981, he met the Belke brothers and formed Live Sex Acts, the band that became SNFU. They released three records before signing to Epitaph in 1993. After a trio of albums on Epitaph. The band then released two more albums with alternating players with the only constant being Chi Pig.

Chi wrote all the lyrics for the band as well as providing much of the art work. Longtime SNFU bassist, Dave Bacon, posted on his social media Thursday night: "It breaks my heart to say this, but our beloved friend has left this mortal coil just a short while ago. He is now at peace. May he live on in our hearts and memories forever." 

Media covering Chi Pig's history includes the book "And What No One Else Wanted To Say", a bio of SNFU written by Chris Walter along with the documentary, "Open Your Mouth And Say… Mr. Chi Pig". We send our condolences to Chinn's friends, family, and fans. 

Early Misfits member Joey Image has passed away

Sadly, Joey Image, formerly of The Misfits during their original run, has passed away. He was 63. The cause of death is reportedly cancer. He drummed on several misfits releases including Horror Business, Night Of The Living Dead, and Beware. We send our condolences to Image's family, friends, and fans. Hear some of his music below.

Steve “Thee Slayer Hippy” Handford of Poison Idea has passed away

Sadly, Steve “Thee Slayer Hippy” Handford, former drummer for Poison Idea has passed away. Handford played in Poison Idea from about 1987 through 1993, including the seminal Feel the Darkness album. We send out condolences to Handford's family, friends, and fans.