Deceased drummer Dave Castillo, RIP
Dave Castillo, longtime drummer of Virginia death/thrash band Deceased, has passed away, Decibel reports. Frontman King Fowley posted a statement on Facebook:
The man always came prepared for recordings/jams/shows and if you didn’t give him enough time to have it ready he’d surely let you know. He wanted to impress you. He wanted it correct and not half-assed, which is the ONLY way music will ever come out of a band i’m a part of. It’s how he did everything in life. And me writing all the Deceased drum parts never bothered him a bit. He would just say “you write it man, keep it your wild Deceased style” and then he’d gladly learn it no matter how wacky i might of made something. Dave Castillo will always be remembered as a great drummer, a great person, and a dear friend. Dave helped me in so many ways to keep the band moving forward with his talent, and for that alone i’m eternally grateful. But he was so much more. Always there for my family in troubled times (the man painted my mothers entire 4 level house after fixing 25 years of living in beat up need to be re-plastered walls first, then did the sink fixes and all other loose ends too. and all over a week span when we lost our house in 2000 and were basically forced out in 2 weeks notice. my mom demanded money to him but he wouldn’t take a dime. he thanked my mom for letting us all ‘wreck’ the place with years and years of big parties. he said this was his way of saying thank you), at my hospital bed after i had a stroke he sat all day with me and joked and made me feel better, he had your back always.
No cause of death has been given.
Dave was first in the band from 2003-2008, and then again from 2012 up until his death. His last album with the band, Ghostly White, comes out this Friday. Deceased are scheduled to perform their classic 1997 album Fearless Undead Machines in full at Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus on December 1, but no word yet if they still plan to play. They’re also booked for Decibel Metal & Beer Fest in Philly in April 2019.
UPDATE: Deceased’s December 1 show at Saint Vitus has been cancelled, and refunds will be issued..
Rest in peace, Dave. You’ll be missed.
Listen to a track from the upcoming Deceased album below:
