The cause of death of the Amen frontman Casey Chaos has been revealed by one of the singer’s close friends.
News of his passing at the age of 59 was announced on December 21 by Brian Perera, founder of the record label Cleopatra Records. “Casey wasn’t just an extraordinary musician – he truly lived and breathed the lifestyle,” Perera wrote. “May he rest in peace alongside Rozz Williams and the many tortured souls we admire and respect.”
Now, Dean Karr, a photographer and video director who was close to Chaos – real name Karim Chmielinski – has confirmed that he died from a massive heart attack in his Laurel Canyon home near Los Angeles.
“He was excited for his mother’s arrival from Melbourne, Florida, to spend Christmas with him and had sent a limousine to retrieve her from LAX airport,” Karr has written. “The mother arrived at 10:45 p.m. and after no response to her knocking on the door, she let herself in with a spare key. Upon opening the door, she discovered Casey sitting on the floor with his back against the sofa and head tilted back. He had suffered a massive heart attack.”
“Casey had been dealing with heart issues, poor circulation, and high blood pressure for the last few years,” he added. “Regardless, we lost a great man/musician/friend/son.”
Karr also confirmed that Chaos was cremated at a ceremony on December 23 in North Hollywood, California, adding that memorial services will be announced at a later date.
“Casey Chaos is survived by his mother, Tambil Chmielinski, and her dog Momo,” Karr concluded.
Born in 1965, Chaos began making his own music under the band name Casey and the Skate Punx in 1982. He recruited bassist Scot Lade, drummer Bill Erwin, and guitarist Ken Decter and later changed the band name to Disorderly Conduct.
Later, Chaos moved to Los Angeles where the group changed their name to Amen. There, he struck up a friendship with Christian Death guitarist Rikk Agnew, which led to him playing on and cowriting several songs on their 1993 album ‘Iconologia’.
Amen released four studio albums: their 1994 debut ‘Slave’, ‘Amen’ in 1999, ‘We Have Come for Your Parents’ in 2000 and ‘Death Before Musick’ in 2004.
In 2001, they played the seventh NME tour alongside JJ72, Alfie and Starsailor.
Throughout his career, Chaos also played in Christian Death and black metal supergroup Scum.
In 2014, Amen returned to the studio to record a new album, but it wasn’t finished in time, and Amen went on to perform at Knotfest in support of Slipknot. Then, in late 2019, Chaos resumed recording of the album, before it was halted again due to the COVID pandemic. The album remains unfinished.
