In Memoriam: Josh Pappe

Josh Pappe

Former D.R.I. bassist Josh Pappe has passed away from undisclosed causes. He was 53 years old. The news was shared by his former bandmate Spike Cassidy on Facebook.

“RIP JOSH PAPPE,” he wrote. “We were like brothers back in the day. I love you man.”

Pappe is best known for his work with crossover thrash pioneers D.R.I. (aka Dirty Rotten Imbeciles) from 1983 to 1989. It was in this period that the band shifted their sound from hardcore punk to what is now called crossover thrash. He recorded three albums with them – 1984’s Violent Pacification EP, 1987’s Crossover, and 1988’s 4 of a Kind – before leaving to join Gang Green. He was with that band until 1991.

You can see Pappe with D.R.I. in this tour video from 1987:

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Josh Pappe.

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