Shawn Smith, known as the frontman for ’90s alt-rockers Brad, has passed away at the age of 53.
Back in the early ’90s, the grunge scene was undoubtedly exploding thanks to names like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden.
Understandably, this made things all the more harder for other Seattle-based acts to stand out from the crowd and make a name for themselves on the global scene.
In 1992 though, Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard teamed up with the members of fellow Washington rockers Satchel to form the band Brad.
Fronted by the inimitable vocals of Shawn Smith, the group never reached the same levels of fame as their related acts, but managed to make a name for themselves as one of the most underrated rock groups of all-time.
Releasing five full-length records over 21 years, Brad even managed to visit Australia in the late ’90s (featuring Ben Harper as their support act), though they never quite saw constant levels of chart success.
Now, following years of performing as a solo act and in a number of various bands, frontman Shawn Smith is reported to have passed away.
According to The Seattle Times, Shawn Smith passed away on Friday, April 5th, a day on which many Seattle grunge fans remember the loss of icons such as Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Alice In Chains’ Layne Staley.
While a cause of death was not immediately available, some publications have reported that the singer passed away due to complications of diabetes.
Taking to Facebook earlier, Smith’s son Dove confirmed the tragic news to his father’s followers.
“It is so sad for everybody,” Dove Smith wrote. “I miss him so much and I don’t even know how to express how much I love him he is an amazing dad.”
“He gave me all the love he has to offer and I think he’d want all of you to know he’s leaving his love for all of us, me and my mom both know how grateful he is for all of you.”
Check out Brad’s ’20th Century’:
