Lance Hahn of J Church (1967-2007)

Founding member of J Church and all around well–loved punk icon Lance Hahn has passed away. Hahn had been comatose since Friday, October 12th following a collapse during dialysis. According to a post attributed to Hahn's girlfriend:

as far as the doctors can tell, this collapse was due to a sudden, drastic drop in blood pressure, which in turn was probably caused by a recurrence of the infection he had had in september combined with the stress of dialysis. he received immediate cpr from medical professionals at the dialysis center, but as it took fifteen or twenty minutes to resuscitate him, he suffered neurological damage from lack of oxygen to the brain, leaving him in a coma from which he never returned.

Lance Hahn was the lead singer, guitarist, and founding member of J Church. He also wrote extensive "punk rock history" articles for Maximumrocknroll. In addition of all of this, he found time to run Honey Bear Records. Hahn was working on a compliation book of writings on anarcho–punk bands, called "Let the Tribe Increase," to be released on AK Press.

All of us at Punknews.org extend our deepest condolences to Hahn's friends and family.

Paul Raven of Killing Joke/Prong/Ministry (1961-2007)

Paul Raven, bassist behind influential post–punk/industrial outfit Killing Joke has died of an apparent heart attack.

The 46 year–old was the second bassist in Killing Joke and remained with the band until their first break up in 1991. After that, he performed with both Prong and Godflesh and later collaborated with Ministry for their 2006 full length, Rio Grande Blood.

Killing Joke keyboardist Rez Udhin told one media outlet:

Paul was a very amazing man who I loved and trusted very much. He always had great ideas, ventures and always looked out for me as if I were a little brother to him.

"I was very fortunate to be in contact with him several times in his last week and I had great conversations with him, we laughed and joked, which was an integral part of his personality. "Paul will be greatly missed by music fans, friends and mostly his family; his bands will miss him terribly. He was a great man and a unique bass player who has died at such a tragically early age.

Ministry's Al Jourgenson also commented:

I am in total shock. The world of music is a sadder, emptier place. Not only was Raven an extraordinary talent, but one of my closest dearest friends. Our condolences and prayers go to his immediate family. He will be truly missed by artists, musicians and his fans the world over.

Our condolences to his friends and family.

Mikey “Offender” Donaldson (1961-2007)

Sources are reporting that bassist Mikey "Offender" Donaldson of MDC, DRI and the Offenders passed away in his sleep on September 22 in Barcelona, Spain where he had recently relocated from Amsterdam. The cause of death is unknown at the moment. He was 46. Mikey is survived by a brother and two sisters.

Our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

David Fuentes (1971-2007)

Unfortunate news has come in from celebrated LA ska band Hepcat. Bassist Dave Fuentes has passed away. Details are currently slim, but the band announced the following this past weekend:

"We are sad to announce that our brother, beloved band mate and amazing friend, David Fuentes, is no longer with us. He will be missed by everyone but especially everyone in the Hepcat family."

Fuentes had also been playing as a member of the Aggrolites following their recent line up shuffle.

Punknews.org offers our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Hilly Kristal (1931-2007)

Hilly Kristal, founder of famous New York venue CBGB, died at the age of 75 this past Tuesday of complications from lung cancer. Kristal ran the club from 1973 to 2006, giving vital early support to the scene that brought the world the Ramones, Patti Smith, Television, Blondie, the Talking Heads and many others. The club was recently closed following a prolonged battle with the venue's landlords, with the ensuing tributes and send-off shows solidifying the venue's status as a punk rock mecca and possibly the genre's greatest landmark.

Kristal is survived by his daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman, son, Mark Dana Kristal, son-in-law Ger Burgman, grandchildren Jenny and Adam Burgman. A private memorial service is planned with a public memorial to be scheduled at a later date. Contributions in Hilly's honor may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society or the Hilly Kristal Foundation for Musicians and Artists

Anthony Wilson of Factory Records (1950-2007)

Anthony H. Wilson, co-founder of Factory Records, has died of a heart attack at the age of 57. The influential Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, and (briefly) James and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Besides forming the label, in 1982, he set up The Hacienda nightclub, which became known as perhaps the most famous club in the world in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It became the heart of the "Madchester" scene, which was known for the embrace of post-punk and dance genres.

Punknews.org offers our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Tom Snyder (1936-2007)

American television and radio personality Tom Snyder has passed away at 71. Tom died Sunday in San Francisco from complications associated with leukemia, said his longtime producer and friend Mike Horowicz.

Though he is more recently known as the host of The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder, Snyder actually became well-known while hosting The Tomorow Show which featured early conversations with some of punk and new wave's most striking figures. His classic interviews included everyone from John Lennon, Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Joan Jett, Paul Weller, Johnny Rotten, The Clash, The Plasmatics, PIL to Kiss and Charles Manson.

Some of those interviews eventually surfaced on a DVD titled The Tomorrow Show - Punk & New Wave released last year.

Punknews.org offers our deepest condolences to Tom's friends, family and fans.

Kelly Johnson of Girlschool (1958-2007)

This past weekend Kelly Johnson, guitarist for all-female heavy metal / hard rock act Girlschool passed away. She had been battling spinal cancer for the past six years.

Kelly joined the band in 1978, debuting on their 1980 full length Demolition. The band were frequently associated with tour mates and collaborators Motörhead and played a major part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Kelly left the band in 1984 following their fourth full length Play Dirty and moved to Los Angeles. She rejoined the act in 1993 and moved back to the UK. Kelly's second run with the band ended with 2001's Not That Innocent: 21st Anniversary.

Our deepest condolences go out to Kelly's friends and family.

Kawakami of Disclose (-2007)

Kawakami, the long-time vocalist and guitarist for the Japanese band Disclose, has died from an unintentional overdose. According to reports, the singer died from a lethal combination of sleeping pills and vodka.

Kawakami was the mainstay in the band's revolving lineup. Disclose's sound, based on the infamous Discharge, was legendary within Japan's hardcore punk scene. Their numerous releases (14 split 7"s, one split LP, two LPs, and ten 7"s and 10"s) over the past 15 years and heavily distorted, blown out noisy style influenced hundreds of other bands, much like Discharge did in the 1980s.

Our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

A fan has provided a link to a YouTube of a recent performance.

Ben Hutson (Mancub)

Last Thursday, May 31st, the DIY music community suffered a tragic loss. Ben Hutson, who had been performing acoustic folk-punk music for years under the name Mancub was killed in a senseless automobile accident while driving through West Virginia on tour returning to his home in Richmond, VA. His girlfriend Cayce and mandolin player Joe Waffles were also killed in the accident.

All three of the victims involved attended Richmond's Virginia Commonwealth University, and were active in the local music and activism communities. Just before the tour, Mancub finished recording his debut full length album, slated to be released by Richmond's Valiant Death record label, who Ben & Cayce actively worked for. As a tribute to their memory, and in an effort to share Mancub's music with the world, Valiant Death has released this CD, and is donating all the profits made to various vegan based organizations which the three victims supported. A limited 300 copies are being made in hopes of raising $1000 for the donation. You can order the album here.

Anyone interested in finding out information about memorial services, or other ways to support the memory and families of the victims may contact valiantdeath@hotmail.com.

This news comes just a little over a month after another Richmond musician and activist, Jonny Z, lost his life in Richmond.