Rachel Nagy of Detroit Cobras has passed away

Sadly, Rachel Nagy, co-founder of the Detroit Cobras has passed away. No cause of death was given. The band's current label, Third Man Records, issued a short statement: "“In both her voice and personality, Rachel Nagy was the perfect balance of tough badass and absolute sweetheart.” The band released five albums and a number of singles, with the most recent being 2020's "Feel Good." Punknews sends its condolences to Nagy's family, friends, and fans.

Mensi of Angelic Upstarts has passed away

Sadly, Thomas Mensforth aka Mensi, singer for Angelic Upstarts has passed away at 65. He had been fighting Covid for the past few weeks. The band stated: "Today we lost a punk rock legend.Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all those he inspired."

We send our condolences to Mensi's family, friends, and fans.

Gared O'Donnell of Planes Mistaken for Stars has passed away

Gared O'Donnell, lead vocalist, guitarist and founding member of Planes Mistaken For Stars, has passed away. He passed November 24 at the age of 44 after a battle with esophageal cancer. The band released a statement on their social media pages that reads in part,

"It is impossible to express the depth of sorrow in which we must announce that Gared O’Donnell, our brother, our leader, our captain, who has done more to cultivate love and light in this world than any of us can understand, has moved on from his physical form here with us and crossed the rainbow bridge into the eternal ether. In his final days/hours, he was surrounded by the love of his family, his friends, his bandmates, and many others from afar.

A titan, a pillar, a beacon, no one that knew him wasn’t touched or inspired. The gift he gave us was himself, fully unselfishly pouring his life, love, and soul out to the world, so honestly that it hurt.

His passion was infectious drawing us all to him and to each other. The family we have is vast because of Gared. Through the sheer force of his will, he helped to sculpt the reality we all inhabit. His impact on us all will never die.

At the end of every Planes show, Gared urged us all to take care of each other. It wasn’t just something to say, it was a plea for us all to open our hearts and see everyone for what they are, our brothers and sisters. A plea for us to appreciate every heart wrenching, beautiful, and terrifying moment life has to offer.

Gared O’Donnell, mythical beast, in one way or another, helped make us all who we are today.

Gared spent the last year of his life doing exactly what he loved, writing and recording music. We are currently working hard to bring these multiple final projects to completion. It is heartbreaking to do this without him, but we know that he would want for us to complete what we had started together. We will do our absolute best to honor his legacy and spread word of the legend that he embodied.

All of you have helped Gared to fulfill his dreams in life and provided him an extensive family bigger than he ever could have imagined. His love will live on in us for the rest of our days. So thank you all for your love and support over the years. His life was richer because of it.

Love to you all. May the light of our collective love carry Gared onto his next journey. Thunder in the night forever!"

Planes Mistaken for Stars formed in 1997 and released four full-length albums, the last of which was Prey in 2016. We send our condolences to Gared O'Donnell's family, friends, and fans.

Hank Von Hell, former Turbonegro singer, has passed away

Sadly, Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby aka Hank Von Hell passed away on November 19, 2021. He fronted Turbonegro circa 1993-2010. He was 49. His family released a statememnt: ""We are very sad to announce that Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby, also known to the world as Hank von Hell, sadly passed away on November 19th, 2021," stated a post on the musician's social media, adding, "We kindly ask for your respect to the family and close friends in this moment of tragedy."

turbonegro also released a statement: ""It is with immense sadness we received the tragic news that Hans-Erik «Hertis» Dyvik Husby has passed away. We are thankful for the times, the moments and the magic we shared with Hans-Erik in Turbonegro during the years 1993-2009. As a charismatic frontman who equally channeled humor and vulnerability, Hans-Erik was crucial for the band’s appeal. He was a warm and big hearted human, a spiritually and intellectually seeking person who loved having a conversation with anyone. We are proud of what we created together as rock brothers in Turbonegro - the music, the characters, our whole universe. Hank Von Helvete remains an iconic figure in the history of Norwegian rock and popular culture, and also made a mark as a profile in the international rock´n´roll community," they add. "Actor, romantic and entertainer - through his life Hank left no doubt that he was a man for the stage, loving the spotlight and the room’s attention. Our thoughts and hearts go to his family. Rest In Peace."

We send out condolences to Hank's family, friends, and fans.

Original Screeching Weasel drummer Steve Cheese passes away (1967-2021)

Steve Cheese, real name Stephen Dubick, who played drums on the first two Screeching Weasel albums passed away last week. According to the funeral home handling his memorial, Dubick passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on November 3, 2021, surrounded by his family You can read the obituary here. Screeching Weasel's original guitarist John Jughead released the statement: "We have lost our first Weasel. I am sad to announce that this morning Steve (Cheese) Dubick has passed away. Steve played drums on our first demo, our self titled record and of course the legendary album with the first appearance of the Weasel Logo, Boogada Boogada Boogada. His wedding on a campground in Wisconsin, where we played a horrible punk set at his reception will always stay with me." We send our condolences to Dubick's family, friends, and fans.

Big Bob Clark of Agression passes away

Sadly, "Big" Bob Clark of Agression passed away earlier this week. Clark was a founding member of the group and played bass. A cause of death was not given, but the passing was confirmed by Punk Rock Bowling. Punknews sends its condolences to Clark's family, friends, and fans.

Benjamin Vallé, guitarist and co-founder of Viagra Boys, has passed away

Benjamin Vallé, guitarist and founding member of Sweden's Viagra Boys, has passed away. He was 47 years old. No cause of death has been revealed. The band announced his passing in a post on Instagram that reads,

"Verified it brings me great sadness to say that our beloved friend and founding member of viagra boys, Benjamin, has passed. Benjamin was loving and kind and the sweet memories we have together are countless. i cant stop crying while going through pictures of you but also laughing because you were one of the funniest, goofiest, people i had the pleasure of knowing. benjamin or ‘benis’ as we knew him, spread laughter and happiness wherever he went and i will cherish the memories we have of touring the world together. Benjamin, we love you with all of our hearts and Viagra Boys would have been nothing without you. This planet just lost one the good ones. I hope you’re somewhere up in space telling bad jokes to an alien. Goodnight my sweet boy. I’ll love you forever. Raise your glasses for benis. its what he’d have wanted."

Benjamin Vallé was a member of hardcore punk band Nine before going on to found Viagra Boys in 2015 along with Sebastian Murphy, Martin Ehrencron, Oskar Carls, Henrik Höckert, and Tor Sjödén. He played on their three EPs and two albums. Their second album Welfare Jazz was released earlier this year. We send our condolences to Benjamin Vallé's family, friends, and fans.

Julz Sale of Delta 5 has passed away

Julz Sale, lead guitarist, singer, and co-founder of Leeds post-punk band Delta 5, has passed away. Her age and cause of death has not been released. Record label Rough Trade announced her passing in a statement that reads in part,

" We are very sad to learn of the passing of Julz Sale, Delta 5 founding member and former employee of the Rough Trade label.

RIP x"

Julz Sale co-founded Delta 5 in 1970s with Ros Allen and Bethan Peters, drummer Kelvin Knight and guitarist Alan Riggs joined the band later. Delta 5 put out their first single "Mind Your Own Business" in 1979 and released their only album, See The Whirl in 1981. The band broke up after the album was released and Julz Sale went on to work at Rough Trade. A compilation of early Delta 5 songs called Singles & Sessions 1979-1981 was released by Kill Rock Stars in 2006. Kill Rock Stars also released a statement that reads in part,

"Julz Sale's contribution to punk, post-punk and music at large will be felt forever. We are gutted by the news of her passing. She was a delight to know and will be missed immensely."

We send our condolences to Julz Sale's family, friends, and fans.

Lee “Scratch” Perry has passed away

Sadly, according to the Jamaican Observer, reggae icon Lee Scratch Perry has passed away. He was 85. The cause of death was not given, but he passed away this morning at Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea.

As you likely know, Perry was an inventor of reggae and dub, and produced thousands of songs, including works by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Junior Murvin, Max Romeo, Susan Cadogan, Jah Lion, and many, many more. We send our condolences to Perry's family, friends, and fans.

Charlie Watts has passed away

Sadly, Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones has passed away. He was 80 and passed away peacefully in a London hospital, surrounded by family. Watts was a founding member of the Rolling Stones and has drummed for the band since formation. His publicist stated: "Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation." We send our condolences to Watts' family and friends.