Influential Gorilla Biscuits guitarist Alex Brown has passed away, aged 52

Alex Brown, the guitarist of influential punk icons Gorilla Biscuits, has passed away at the age of 52.

Back in the late ’80s, the New York City hardcore punk scene was taken by storm thanks to the frenetic music of Gorilla Biscuits. Formed by a group of CBGB regulars, the band’s music has gone on to become some of the most iconic and influential of the ’80s punk scene.

Recruiting guitarist Alex Brown before the recording of their sole album, 1989’s influential Start Today, the band broke up just a few years later, though they reconvened in 2005 and have played regularly since.

Now, as ArtForum reports, Alex Brown has tragically passed away at age 52, following an aneurysm.

In a statement posted to Instagram, Gorilla Biscuits’ frontman Anthony Civarelli remembered the effect that Brown had on his life.

“The world lost a son, brother, uncle, artist, musician and loving friend this week,” he explained. “I lost my bandmate and friend of over 30 years, a piece of my heart died this week and all I can do is think of all the fun, shows, meals flights and trips we had together.”

“All the late night talks and all the early morning hangs with him and my wife and kids. There will never be another Alex Brown. A memorial service will be held in Iowa in the coming weeks. Tell the ones you love that you love them.”

Check out Anthony Civarelli’s Instagram memorial:

In addition to his time as a punk guitarist, Alex Brown was also noted for his immersive artworks, with ArtForum explaining his work often featured “photographs from travel brochures and postcards, press materials, and the internet” which were then “filtered or superimposed with complex, often gridlike patterns”.

While the future of Gorilla Biscuits remains unclear at this time, our thoughts are with the family, friends, colleagues, and bandmates of Andy Brown during this difficult period.