OT: American Head Charge guitar player found dead

[Hurst2112]

Shocked...and crushed.

AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE guitarist Bryan Ottoson was reportedly found dead in his bus bunk earlier today prior to the band`s scheduled appearance at the Plex in North Charleston, SC. An official word on the matter is expected shortly.

AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE were in the middle of a U.S. tour with MUDVAYNE, LIFE OF AGONY and BLOODSIMPLE in support of their new album, "The Feeding", available on Nitrus/DRT. The follow-up to 2001`s "The War of Art" (American Recordings) was recorded at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman (who engineered "The War of Art", and whose credits include MARILYN MANSON, SLIPKNOT, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and BUSH).

As I have posted before, AHC are friends of mine from the cities. I have had a relationship with all of them for the last 3 years. All a bunch of great guys, whom despite their 'rock n roll' lifestyles, are some of the most fun and caring people you could be around.

Those of you who pray, I would ask that you throw one in for the rest of the band as well. If this is a drug related death (as it might be) there are other members in the band that were more prone to dying than "Mini Beef" was.



http://www.headcharge.com/media/photos/ahcmisc015_600.jpg
Bryan is the one on the left

http://www.headcharge.com/media/photos/ahcmisc011_600.jpg

http://www.headcharge.com/media/photos/ahclive022.jpg

http://www.headcharge.com/media/photos/ahcmisc001_600.jpg

[Draft Dodger]

sorry for your loss, man

[Ksyrup]

Sorry to hear about this. I've heard the name and know of the reputation, but never heard the music. Seems like they enjoyed playing up the druggie lifestyle as the band's theme, and look where it got them. I hope this will be a wake-up call to their young fans, if not the remaining members. It's always unfortunate when someone goes this way (assuming it is what it appears to be).

[Hurst2112]

Bryan was the least of my worries with that band. He did party hard, but didn't show his affinity for too much else...to people not close to him.

I am scared for the rest of the band. I have memories of helping Cameron (singer) out during some very dark times in his life. Many stories of debauchery. Many good memories, several not so good.

Just very sad. I am angry as well.

[The Afoci]

Head Charge kicked ass. This sucks. Sorry for your loss.

[Hurst2112]

UPDATE:

American Head Charge guitarist Bryan Ottoson was found dead on Tuesday. The 27-year-old musician's body was discovered in a sleeping bunk on the band's tour bus in North Charleston, South Carolina, where the group was set to play at the Plex club, a spokesperson for the band's label said.

According to North Charleston police records, investigators have determined Ottoson's death to be the result of a prescription-drug overdose. Police found a pill bottle containing "numerous amounts of prescription medicine" in Ottoson's bed.

Members of American Head Charge told police they last saw Ottoson alive at around 4 a.m. on the morning of April 18, just as the band was departing Jessup, Maryland, for North Charleston. Ottoson had consumed "a large amount of alcohol at a bar" in Jessup that evening, according to police documents.

Police were called to the scene at around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evening; by that time, Ottoson was dead. Bassist Chad Hanks (known to fans by his stage name, Mr. H.C. Banks III) and guitarist Karma Cheema told police that Ottoson was a "heavy sleeper, and it was not uncommon for him to sleep late before a concert."

The report also claims police were told that Ottoson had been "consuming unknown prescription medications."

The band had been on tour with Mudvayne, Life of Agony and Bloodsimple. American Head Charge are expected to miss at least the next three dates of the tour, and it's unclear whether they will rejoin it at all. At the moment, the bandmembers are said to be heading home to Minneapolis. An official statement from the group is expected late Wednesday (April 20).

The industrial-metal collective was formed nearly a decade ago by founding frontman Martin Cook and Hanks following a chance meeting in a Minnesota rehab center. In a recent interview with British magazine Metal Hammer, Hanks said, "In the past three years, we've had two or three relapses, two treatment centers, a divorce, two members leaving, and a whole heap of other sh-- going on." In the same article, Cook alludes to the fact that alcohol and drug abuse has nearly ended the band in the past.

American Head Charge released their latest album, The Feeding, in February.

— Chris Harris

[sabotai]

Holy shit! Damn that sucks. I've been listening to them a lot lately.

[Hurst2112]

Just a final update...

The band is going back on tour April 29th. The funeral is the 27th. I think that this is a good thing for the band. Bryan would have wanted it. Not to mention, Headcharge can maintain the steam that they have been creating with this extended tour.

MTV 2 is re-airing the Headbanger's Ball episode that Headcharge hosted a while back. They are doing this as a memorial to Bryan. I would suggest checking it out...for those of you who haven't heard of the band.

Rock on