Staind founding drummer Jon Wysocki dies at 56

The founding drummer of rock band Staind, Jon Wysocki, has died at age 56.

Wysocki died Saturday night time, in line with his band, Lydia’s Citadel, which posted on Instagram that the drummer “handed away surrounded by household and pals that cherished him dearly.” The submit included an earlier picture of the bandmates in a bunch hug, with Wysocki’s trademark silver mullet shining within the mild.

Lydia’s Citadel’s guitarist and co-founder Cody Denton instructed The Instances on Monday that Wysocki suffered “problems along with his liver and different organs.” A buddy of Wysocki posted Saturday morning on Fb that the musician was within the ICU, however family and friends have been hopeful he would nonetheless recuperate. However his well being declined quickly.

Followers and former colleagues posted tributes to the drummer on-line. “He was my buddy. He was our brother. My coronary heart is damaged. My world has modified,” wrote Aaron Lewis, lead vocalist of Staind, as he reminisced about Wysocki on the social media platform X. “The battles we fought collectively. The battles we fought in opposition to one another.”

Staind was based by core members Lewis, Wysocki, Mike Mushok and Johnny April in 1995 within the New England space. The band reached its peak within the early 2000s. Staind’s third album, “Break the Cycle,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s high 200 in 2001.

Subsequent albums “14 Shades of Gray” and “Chapter V” additionally would high American music charts and obtain platinum certification from the Recording Trade Assn. of America. Based on the Music Museum of New England, the band bought practically 15 million copies of its seven albums altogether, making Staind probably the most commercially profitable laborious rock bands in latest historical past.

In 2011, after 17 years with the band, Wysocki left, citing inventive variations along with his colleagues. He continued his musical profession, touring and recording with bands together with Soil and Save the World earlier than he discovered his most up-to-date inventive companions in one other unbiased rock band, Lydia’s Citadel, based mostly in Nashville, Tenn.

Tonya LeeAnne, frontwoman and co-founder for Lydia’s Citadel, recalled in an interview with The Instances that it was “love at first sight” when she and Denton met Wysocki at a rehearsal after the band put out a name for a drummer in 2021. “[The] chemistry was simply so quick and pure,” LeeAnne mentioned. “It takes years to have chemistry like that with individuals.” Wysocki’s rhythm turned the heartbeat of their new band.

They have been at first stunned a musician of Wysocki’s caliber was prepared to decide to a fledgling group. Denton mentioned Wysocki had a regal presence whereas nonetheless being humble.

He mentioned the primary time he noticed Wysocki behind his drum equipment, “He seemed like a king sitting on a throne.” He appeared to ooze knowledge, Denton mentioned. It wasn’t simply Wysocki’s drumming and songwriting talents but additionally his endurance when it got here to managing the inevitable conflict of personalities of their four-person band.

And whether or not it was assembly a fan or providing recommendation to different musicians, Denton mentioned, Wysocki confirmed kindness and endurance. “He gave all of himself to everybody round him, and his assist was unwavering,” Denton added.

Wysocki was so dedicated to Lydia’s Citadel that he had the band’s crown emblem tattooed prominently on his chest, mentioned LeeAnne. “And we have been like, ‘Oh, man, I suppose he actually isn’t leaving.’”

Like that ink, the mark Wysocki left on his pals in Lydia’s Citadel is lasting, Denton mentioned.

“With out him, I’m certain that we might nonetheless be attempting to determine what we’re alleged to be doing,” he mentioned. “He legitimized Lydia’s Citadel from the very starting.”

Wysocki is survived by his fiancée, Shannon Fox; his dad and mom; his son; and a sister, in line with Denton, who declined to supply additional particulars.