Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom has passed away

Alexi Laiho, lead vocalist, guitarist, and founding member of Finnish metal band Children of Bodom has passed away at age 41. According to a press release Alexi Laiho passed away last week at his home in Helsinki, Finland and while no cause of death has been released, he “had suffered from long-term health issues during his last years”. A statement released by his Children of Bodom band members reads in part,

“More than 25 years of friendship. We lost a brother. The world lost a phenomenal song writer and one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Memories and Alexi’s music will live forever. Our thoughts are with Alexi’s family during this difficult time.”

Children of Bodom formed in 1997 and released ten studio albums, the last of which was Hexed released in 2019. Alexi Laiho formed Bodom After Midnight along with Daniel Freyberg, Mitja Toivonen, and Waltteri Väyrynen in 2020 and had finished recording three songs as well as a music video that will be released posthumously. Bodom After Midnight also released a statement that reads in part, “We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken for the sudden loss of our dear friend and band member.” We send our condolences to Alexi Laiho’s family and friends.

Chris Neumann of 2.5 Children Inc. has passed away

Sadly, Chris Neumann of 2.5 Children Inc. passed away, late last week. 2.5 Children Inc. was a Philadelphia-area punk band in the '90s. After that band broke up, Neumann recorded with Plow United as Texas Criffer. He also released a solo record titled American Songs Of Hope & Distress in 2003 on Fistolo records. More recently, Neumann had been working as a mason in Texas. We send our condolences to Neumann's family, friends, and fans.

Leftover Crack's Alec Baillie has passed away

Sadly, earlier this week, Alec Baillie of Leftover Crack and Choking Victim passed away. Baillie had played in Leftover Crack since its inception and had also been a member of Choking Victim, the pre-Choking Victim band No Commercial Value, and Agent 99.

We send our condolences to Baillie's family, friends, and fans. You can read Leftover Crack's statement below.

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.