Kent Stax, Drummer for Hardcore Punk Icons Scream, Has Died

Abby Jones
·2 min read
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The post Kent Stax, Drummer for Hardcore Punk Icons Scream, Has Died appeared first on Consequence.

Kent Stax, original drummer for legendary hardcore punks Scream, has died. The news arrives just a day after the band announced their upcoming album DC Special, their first new music since 2011 and first full-length since 1993.

Bandmates Pete and Franz Stahl commemorated Stax in a social media post Wednesday, September 20th: “We are heartbroken to share that our drummer Bennett Kent Stacks passed away this morning after a bout with metastatic cancer. Kent is the original heartbeat of Scream. Though we have had to continue on without him before, we have always known Kent is irreplaceable. He was one of a kind. In addition to being a truly unique drummer, Kent was also an accomplished fisherman, skilled carpenter, and avid train enthusiast.”

The post goes on: “Kent also played in prominent punk and harDCore bands including The Suspects, Spitfires United, Alleged Bricks and more throughout his life. He also branched out to other genres, playing with The Daryl Davis Band and The Old Dominion Trio. He is survived by his wife of 40 years Andrea, daughter Jennifer, brothers Kurt, William and Henry and a host of band mates, friends and fans. If you ever saw us play or if you knew Kent, your thoughts and memories are welcome here.”

Stax joined Scream shortly after its formation in 1981. The band would become known as early pioneers of hardcore punk along with groups like Minor Threat and Government Issue, and helped put the influential indie label Dischord Records on the map. Stax performed on their first three LPs before leaving in 1987, after which he was replaced by a then-teenaged Dave Grohl.

Stax periodically reunited with his Scream bandmates in the late 2000s and 2010s. In 2011, the band’s original lineup recorded the live EP Complete Control Sessions, and earlier this year, the band announced DC Special, their first studio album in 30 years. Out November 10th on Dischord, the record features guest appearances from Grohl, Ian MacKaye and Joe Lally of Fugazi, Amy Pickering, Brian Baker of Bad Religion, and more.

Kent Stax, Drummer for Hardcore Punk Icons Scream, Has Died
Abby Jones

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