John Stabb of Government Issue, RIP

We’re sad to report that Government Issue’s John Stabb (real name John Schroeder), who had been battling stomach cancer, died on Saturday (5/7). The band shared the news on Facebook:

It is with heavy hearts that we have to announce that at 7:43 p.m 5/7/16 our comrade John Stabb Schroeder lost his hard fought battle with stomach cancer.
Our hearts go out to his wife Mina. Rest in Power, brother, there will never be another.

John Wurster (Superchunk / Bob Mould / Mountain Goats) wrote a nice tribute:

A true punk legend went on to his next phase tonight. Had the pleasure of seeing John Stabb work his magic in the ’80s and as recently as last November (this is him on the right in Chapel Hill). He hadn’t lost one iota of fire and passion in those thirty years. John sat in with Superchunk on a couple GI songs in 1999 at the Black Cat and my main memory is of how insanely intense his performance was. But then after the show he was just a regular, unassuming guy cracking jokes and telling stories. Just a great dude. Stir it up on the other side, JS!

There was to have been a fundraiser benefit at Washington, DC’s Black Cat tonight (5/8) which will still happen, now as a memorial tribute. It features Thurston Moore, J. Robbins, and GIVE. Tickets are available.

Rest in peace, John. You will be missed.