Jon Wysocki, Founding Drummer of Staind, Dies at 53
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Jon Wysocki, a drummer and founding member of the rock band Staind, has died. He was 53.
Wysocki’s death was confirmed over the weekend on May 18 in social media post shared by his band Lydia’s Castle. They wrote, “On 5/18/2024 at 8:02pm, Jon Wysocki passed away surrounded by family and friends that loved him dearly.”
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At the time of this article’s publication, no cause of death had been shared. Before his death, it was reported Wysocki was having complications with his liver. In a Facebook post shared May 18, Lydia’s Castle member Shawna Hornbeck confirmed Wysocki was in the ICU due to “issues with his liver that requires him to be under the attention of medical professionals to ensure that he is treated properly. While he has been struggling, there are signs that he is recovering slowly.”
The official social media account for the band Staind, which Wysocki departed from in 2011, also shared the following statement: “We first met Jon through mutual friends in 1994. We came together with Mike, Aaron, and Johnny April in 1995 and founded Staind. The 17 years that followed were some of the best memories of our times together. From practice in Ludlow, Mass to touring around the world, Jon was integral to who we were as a band. Our hearts go out to Jon’s family, and fans around the world who loved him.”
Wysocki was born on Jan. 17 in 1971 in Westfield, Mass. He is best known for co-founding the grunge band Staind with singer Aaron Lewis, guitarist Mike Mushok and bassist Johnny April. The drummer remained in the group from 1995 to 2011, and contributed to seven of the band’s records including their third studio album, “Break the Cycle,” in 2001, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. He parted ways with the band after their 2011 self-titled seventh LP, reportedly due to friction with Lewis.
Lewis penned a touching tribute he shared on X writing, “I’m so sad. I lost my friend. A friend I loved like a brother… fought with like a brother… cared for like a brother… worried about like a brother… cried over like a brother… because he was my brother in arms.”
He continued, “My journey would’ve been different without him… The battles we fought together. The battles we fought against each other. The battles we fought side by side alone with our own demons. The battles we won and the battles we lost. He was my friend. He was our brother. My heart is broken. My world has changed. I’ll see you on the other side my friend. My brother. Godspeed. My heart, my love, and my condolences go out to his family and loved ones. I’m so fucking sad. He will be missed.”
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