Teenage Bottlerocket have passed along word that drummer Brandon Carlisle has died. The Wyoming punk band confirmed the news last night via social media.
Earlier this week, Carlisle was found unresponsive in his apartment by a roommate, just a few days after the band returned from playing the Fest 14 in Florida and a few weeks after Teenage Bottlerocket’s tour took them through Cambridge and Providence. “The paramedics showed up at his house shortly after and his heart wasn’t beating,” wrote Carlisle’s twin brother and Teenage Bottlerocket singer/guitarist Ray Carlisle. “They got it going and it gave out again in the ambulance. They got his heart started again and it stopped beating in the ICU unit where the doctors were able to get his heart going again a third time. The scary part is the swelling to Brandon’s brain due to lack of oxygen and blood flow.”
He had been in a coma since then, and his family has made the decision to take him off life support after an MRI showed no activity. Over the past few days, friends and fans of the band around the world showed their support with the hashtag #HopeforBrandon and a GoFundMe had raised more than $30,000 for his recovery.
Here is Teenage Bottlerocket’s official statement:
It is with the heaviest hearts that we have to report our beloved drummer Brandon didn’t make it. The doctors did everything they could to save him, but the MRI showed he is no longer with us. His family and loved ones are with him as they prepare to take him off life support and let him gently move on.
Seeing so many people from all over the world come together in support has been amazing and we know Brandon could feel how much he was really loved. Brandon lived his life with his whole heart. He loved music, and he loved people. He always made it a point to let everyone know how much they meant to him, and to take time to make new friends. Anyone who was lucky enough to spend even a minute with the guy knows what a blessing he was to this earth. So with that love in our hearts, we carry him with us as we say goodbye. To the best drummer, the kindest soul and our brother and best friend, you will be in our hearts always.
Rest in Peace Brandon, we all love you so much.
We extend our best wishes to the Teenage Bottlerocket family. Here’s some video of the band tearing up the Middle East back in September…
Featured photo by Gresie via Facebook