Casey Chaos dead at 59

Casey Chaos has passed away.

The lead singer of Amen, who was previously part of Christian Death and Scum, as well as being a former pro skateboarder, sadly died on Saturday (December 21, 2024) at the age of 59. His record label, Cleopatra Records, confirmed the news but did not provide any details surrounding his death.

In a recent announcement, Cleopatra Records expressed their deep sorrow over the death of Casey Chaos, a uniquely thrilling punk and metal artist who left a significant mark on the music scene over the past three decades. He was also one of the rare artists to have been honored with a Grammy award.

A post on the band's Facebook page assured fans that they would find ways to honor their friend's memory appropriately.

The message stated: "We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to announce the passing of Casey Chaos following the recent news coverage."

As you might expect, every member of the band, both those who are currently involved and those who have been in the past, is profoundly heartbroken.

Over the last five to six years, AMEN had quite a bit happening behind the scenes that we didn’t share publicly. Casey truly valued your support and preferred to hold off on announcements until everything was finalized, rather than revealing projects that were still in development.

The rest of us will consider how we can pay tribute to Casey in a way that truly does him justice. We want to ensure that his brilliance, talent, and kindness are recognized and cherished by everyone who valued them.

"We'd love for you to share any fond memories you have of Casey in the comments below..."

"We'll be sharing more information soon."

"Reject conformity; embrace disorder."

Brian Perera, the head of Cleopatra Records, expressed that collaborating with the "remarkable" artist, whose actual name was Karim Chmielnski, was a true "honor."

He mentioned, "I was fortunate enough to collaborate with Casey during his memorable live show with Christian Death at the American Legion Hall in 1993. Entering the venue with my close friend Matt Green and my wife, Yvonne, was an experience that I will always remember—especially spotting Nicolas Cage sitting right in the front row, completely entranced..."

Casey was more than just a remarkable artist. He wholeheartedly embraced the musical life.

"May he find peace beside Rozz Williams and the countless troubled spirits we hold in high regard."

Amen's bassist, John Fahnestock, fondly recalled his bandmate, describing him as a "legend" and a "brilliant talent."

He shared on Instagram: "It is with great sadness and a tearful heart that I have to inform you that we've lost yet another icon today."

I've lost two iconic lead singers during my career, and now Casey has also left us.

It was a tremendous privilege to be part of AMEN and see firsthand the brilliance of Casey Chaos. He was an exceptional talent, a unique presence with an unwavering spirit, and a genuine punk rock legend!

"This is tough for me. I'm just sitting here reflecting on all the memories, completely at a loss for words… #caseychaos #amen #legend #legendary #legendsneverdie #icon #punkrock #punkrocklegends"