Allen Blickle, founding member and original drummer for progressive sludge metal group Baroness, has passed away at the age of 42.
Allen Blickle, the original drummer for the Grammy-nominated sludge metal band Baroness, has passed away at 42.
The band would confirm Blickle’s death online earlier today on Instagram. Baroness’ frontman John Baizley would share a statement on via Instagram, writing:
“It breaks my heart to have to share the news that my dear friend, creative partner and former bandmate Allen Blickle passed away a few days ago,” Baizley announced. “I’m still in shock that he’s gone. We ask for understanding as his family and this band process his passing and grieve his loss. Allen, I love you and miss you. I treasure every moment we shared.”
No official cause of death has been shared as of the time of writing; however, Laura Pleasants of metal band Kylesa wrote in her tribute on Instagram, “We all thought you had this thing beat. Fuck, we were supposed to hang out when i got back from tour…Gone too soon my friend. I’m glad you are at peace and no longer in pain. Much love to you.”
Blickle had co-founded Baroness alongside Baizley, bassist Summer Welch, and guitarist Tim Loose in 2003. Blickle would record three albums with the band: their 2007 debut Red Album, 2009’s Blue Record, and 2012’s Yellow & Green.
The late drummer would leave the band in 2013, a year after the band’s tour bus plunged 30 feet off a viaduct near Bath, England. Blickle would be hospitalised for two weeks with fractured vertebrae.
In an interview with The Fader in 2013, Blickle shared that the incident made him rethink his life. “The accident was much more to me than just a near-death experience,” he shared. “It made me rethink a lot in my life and has been the most difficult time I’ve been through thus far. It was a horrible memory, but I’m trying not to let it define me or stop me from doing what I love. Let it be and keep moving.”
Blickle would reveal he was still on good terms with everyone in the band and had expressed that he would like to play with them again when the time was right.
“I speak with John [Baizley] and Pete [Adams] every so often. To be honest, I’m not great at keeping in close contact with many people that are out of sight/out of mind,” he admitted. “After the accident, there was space put between us that I regret to say was mostly my fault. I was in some way pushing myself in another direction. I didn’t know how to handle the horrible situation we all went through, but who does? It’s not easy and continues to be somewhat difficult. I do miss playing with them and I have relayed to them that when the time is right, I would like to be on the road again. It’s not up to me at this point. I just don’t want any resentment to build between any of us. We are old friends and have worked really hard together for years. Friends first – that’s the most important thing to remember.”
Since departing Baroness, Blickle would work as a composer and sound designer for film and TV, and would contribute to Netflix’s 2020 series We Are The Champions and Best of Stand-Up.
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