Howie Pyro

Howie Pyro
Birth nameHoward Kusten
Born(1960-06-28)June 28, 1960
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 4, 2022(2022-05-04) (aged 61)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresPunk rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)Musician and disc jockey
InstrumentBass

Howie Pyro (born Howard Kusten, June 28, 1960 – May 4, 2022) was an American bass player. He was a founding member of The Blessed, Freaks,[1] D Generation,[2] and PCP Highway.[3] Pyro was also the bass player in Danzig from 2000–2003.

Biography

Pyro was a DJ at Green Door parties as well as The Blackeyed Soul Club.[4] He was the host of Intoxica Radio with Howie Pyro, an internet radio show, where he played "50s and 60s rock and roll, psycho surf, garage, rockabilly, hillbilly horrors, voodoo r & b, insane instrumentals, religious nuts, and teenage hell music."[5] Pyro was also friends with Sid Vicious and was one of the last people to see the former Sex Pistols bassist alive; Pyro was there the night he died from a heroin overdose.[6]

In December 2021, it was announced that Pyro was fighting for his life and in recovery following a liver transplant. His longtime friend and D Generation bandmate Jesse Malin announced a benefit concert for Pyro in January 2022, with all funds raised going to Pyro's medical and living expense for the next year as he recovered. Various other benefit shows were held for Pyro as well.[7]

He died on May 4, 2022, from COVID-19 related pneumonia after suffering from liver disease.[8]

Discography

With The Blessed

  • "Deep Frenzy" / "American Bandstand" (1979)

With Freaks

  • Pippi Skelter: A Rock Opera in Five Movements (1988)
  • Potter's Field - EP - (1988)
  • In Sensurround (1989)
  • "Freakout Song" - Single - (1990)

With Action Swingers

  • More Fast Numbers (1992)

With D Generation

  • "No Way Out" - Single - (1993)
    • Re-released in 1994 and 1996.
  • "Wasted Years" - Single - (1993)
  • "No God" / "Degenerated" - Single - (1994)
  • D Generation - (1994)
  • No Lunch - (1996)
  • "She Stands There" - Single - (1996)
  • "Capital Offender" - Single - (1997)
  • "Prohibition" - EP - (1998)
  • "Helpless" - Single - (1998)
    • Re-released in 1999.
  • Through The Darkness - (1999)
  • Nothing Is Anywhere - (2016)

With Joey Ramone

  • Christmas Spirit... In My House (2002)

With Genesis P. Orridge / Splinter Test

  • Electric Newspaper: Issue Four (1997)

With Danzig

References

  1. ^ Howie Pyro, D Generation and Danzig Bassist, Dies at 61
  2. ^ "Biography: D Generation". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  3. ^ Big Wheel Magazine - Interview with Howie Pyro
  4. ^ "LA's Blackeyed Soul Club – All 60s, All Vinyl, All the Time". 30 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Intoxica Radio With Howie Pyro". self published. n.d. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Sid and Nancy: A Punk Rock Murder Mystery". AETN UK. 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Howie Pyro's Friends Show Up". laweekly.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  8. ^ Hudak, Joseph (5 May 2022). "Howie Pyro, D Generation Co-Founder and Eclectic DJ, Dead at 61". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 May 2022.