Hawthorne Heights Guitarist dies

[ABlairican Pie]

From MTV News:

Nov 26 2007 5:51 PM EST

Hawthorne Heights Guitarist Casey Calvert Dies Of Unknown Causes

'He was one of the sweetest guys ... we've ever had the chance to tour with,' Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz says.

By James Montgomery, with additional reporting by Gil Kaufman

Hawthorne Heights guitarist Casey Calvert, 26, was pronounced dead on Saturday after police were called to the band's tour bus outside Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club around 2:30 p.m. and found him unconscious. The Washington Post reported that Calvert's death came one day after he and his bandmates — frontman JT Woodruff, guitarist Micah Carli, bassist Matt Ridenour and drummer Eron Bucciarelli — boarded the bus to begin their Wintour 2007 outing, which kicked off Friday night in Detroit. Police are still awaiting results of an autopsy, though some reports speculate that his death might have been caused by a pre-existing condition related to acute asthma.

News of Calvert's untimely death is being greeted with shock and sadness by his fans and his fellow musicians, who remembered him as a kind and caring soul who loved to laugh and loved being in a band with his best friends.

"My mind was blown when we got the call about Casey passing away. It's something that hits you pretty hard, especially after we got to know Casey on the Black Clouds [and Underdogs] Tour," Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz wrote in an e-mail to MTV News. "He was one of the sweetest guys in a band that we've ever had the chance to tour with. More than anything, it reminds you of what's really important in life — it humanizes the situation. Maybe gossip in blogs and first-week sales mean a bit less than telling people you care about how much you love them."

Wentz's FOB bandmate Joe Trohman later shared his thoughts with MTV News, saying, "I'm still in utter shock at the passing of Casey," the guitarist said. "It's really hard to believe that it happened, and so suddenly. We knew him and the rest of HH long, long ago back in our van days, and got even better acquainted when we did the Black Clouds and Underdogs Tour together in '06. He was a stand-up guy, real easy to hang with, and had a great heart. I know for a fact [this has] struck a chord with everyone we are currently on tour with and made us all realize our mortality. I couldn't imagine finding out one of my bandmates, one my brothers, had passed away. Especially while on the road. Our condolences and our hearts go out to the Calvert family and HH. We should all pay our respects by remembering the great guy Casey was, and the positive effect he had on those around him."


Paramore drummer Zac Farro, another musician whose band had toured with Hawthorne Heights, also addressed Calvert's passing. "[This past year] we were on Warped Tour ... and we were on [Hawthorne Heights'] bus, and Casey was just the sweetest dude ever," he said. "He was asking how our day was and asking about our band. ... He was just a sweet dude, and he cared about life."

On the group's Web site, fellow bandmembers announced the death of their "quirky and awesome best friend," who they said had "passed away in his sleep."

"Today is probably the worst day ever," the group wrote. "It's with our deepest regrets that we have to write this. Casey Calvert passed away in his sleep last night. We found out this afternoon before soundcheck. We've spent the entire day trying to come to grips with this and figure out as much as possible. At this time we're not sure what exactly happened. Just last night he was joking around with everyone before he went to bed. We can say with absolute certainty that he was not doing anything illegal. Please, out of respect to Casey and his family, don't contribute or succumb to any gossip you may hear. We don't want his memory to be tainted in the least. Casey was our best friend. He was quirky and awesome and there will truly be no others like him! His loss is unexplainable. As soon as we know more we will let you know. Sincerely, Hawthorne Heights: Eron, JT, Micah and Matt."

Meanwhile, fans have begun filling Hawthorne's MySpace page with messages of support and sadness, celebrating Calvert's life and remembering the music he made with the band.

"Casey was a huge inspiration to me, and if it wasn't for him, I would probably still live in a bubble. He is one of the main reasons I play guitar, and I will never forget him," one message read. "For the rest of you guys, I know this is hitting you so much harder than the rest of us, but please don't stop writing. I know it won't be the same, but this band means so much to me. I love you guys."

Calvert joined Hawthorne Heights in 2003, when they were still known as A Day in the Life, playing guitar — and famously providing background "screams" — on both of their albums, The Silence in Black and White and last year's If Only You Were Lonely, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard albums chart.

The band spent much of the past two years on the road in support of Lonely, logging time on both Fall Out Boy's Black Clouds tour and the Nintendo Fusion Tour. At the time of Calvert's death, Hawthorne had reportedly written 21 songs for a new album, but have not yet recorded them owing to an ongoing legal dispute with their former label, Victory Records.

"He was a very funny individual, and I always had a blast being around him. I spoke with Eron over the weekend and left a message with JT too, and I'm just giving them some space so they can digest what has happened," said Justin Hirschman, who booked Hawthorne's tours through the Artist Group International. "To be honest with you, I'm not sure they'll be able to put what they're feeling into words. I think they're dealing with the death of their best friend right now, so I think the business of being a band comes second."

To that end, a spokesperson at the band's management company, the Firm, confirmed that Hawthorne Heights have canceled all remaining dates on Wintour 2007 and have returned home to Dayton, Ohio, to be with Calvert's wife. It is not known whether the band will attempt to find a replacement for the guitarist.

[This story was originally published at 10:31 a.m. ET on 11.26.2007]

[Buffyboy323]

That's sad. Casey seemed like such a cool guy. The band is really good too.