Remembering Wayne Swinny
Wayne Swinny, the guitarist and founding member of the hard rock band Saliva, passed away on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2023, at the age of 59. He died from a spontaneous brain hemorrhage while on tour with his bandmates, leaving behind a legacy of music and memories.
Swinny’s death came as a shock to everyone who loved him. He was found in medical distress on Tuesday morning (March 22nd) before their show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; as part of their Spring Mayhem Tour with Through Fire and Any Given Sin. Swinny was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage and sent to the ICU. He passed away the next day surrounded by his family.
Swinny was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and started playing guitar at an early age. He formed Saliva in 1996 with singer Josey Scott Sappington, drummer Todd Poole, bassist Dave Novotny, and guitarist Chris D’Abaldo. The band blended elements of nu-metal, rap rock, and alternative rock to create their own distinctive sound.
Saliva rose to fame with their second album Every Six Seconds (2001), which featured the hit singles “Your Disease” and “Click Click Boom”. The latter song became an anthem for action movies and video games, as well as a staple of WWE events. The band also earned a Grammy nomination for their collaboration with Nickelback on the Spider-Man soundtrack song “Hero”.
Swinny was the only original member who stayed with Saliva throughout their career. He played on all 11 studio albums that the band released, including their most recent one 10 Lives (2018). He also contributed to their latest single “High On Me”, which came out in November 2022.
Wayne Swinny, the guitarist and founding member of the hard rock band Saliva, passed away on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2023, at the age of 59. He died from a spontaneous brain hemorrhage while on tour with his bandmates, leaving behind a legacy of music and memories.
Swinny’s death came as a shock to everyone who loved him. He was found in medical distress on Tuesday morning (March 22nd) before their show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; as part of their Spring Mayhem Tour with Through Fire and Any Given Sin. Swinny was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage and sent to the ICU. He passed away the next day surrounded by his family.
Swinny was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and started playing guitar at an early age. He formed Saliva in 1996 with singer Josey Scott Sappington, drummer Todd Poole, bassist Dave Novotny, and guitarist Chris D’Abaldo. The band blended elements of nu-metal, rap rock, and alternative rock to create their own distinctive sound.
Saliva rose to fame with their second album Every Six Seconds (2001), which featured the hit singles “Your Disease” and “Click Click Boom”. The latter song became an anthem for action movies and video games, as well as a staple of WWE events. The band also earned a Grammy nomination for their collaboration with Nickelback on the Spider-Man soundtrack song “Hero”.
Swinny was the only original member who stayed with Saliva throughout their career. He played on all 11 studio albums that the band released, including their most recent one 10 Lives (2018). He also contributed to their latest single “High On Me”, which came out in November 2022.
Swinny was not only a talented musician but also a loving father, a passionate UFO enthusiast, and a generous friend. He had a daughter named Nikki who he adored and often mentioned in interviews.
His bandmates Bobby Amaru (vocals), Brad Stewart (bass), and Sammi Bishop (drums) expressed their grief and gratitude for Swinny on social media. They described him as a brother, a mentor, and an inspiration who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
The status of Saliva’s tour is still unclear at this point. The band has not announced any plans to cancel or postpone their upcoming shows. However, they have asked fans to respect their privacy during this difficult time.