Hard rock band Saliva’s guitarist and co-founder cat the age of 59 after having a brain haemorrhage while on tour.
The news was verified by the band in a Facebook post on Wednesday (March 22) in which they stated, “It is with great regret that we report the demise of our brother Wayne Swinny.
While we were on tour, Wayne passed away this afternoon from a spontaneous brain haemorrhage. Details concerning the funeral arrangements will be published shortly. All those who knew Wayne will miss him.
Wayne Swinny passed away
Only a few hours after the band revealed that Swinny had been hospitalised, his passing was reported. An earlier Facebook post stated, “Our loving brother Wayne Swinny was discovered Tuesday morning in medical difficulties and paramedics were called.” He was taken to a hospital, where it was determined that he had a spontaneous brain haemorrhage. While we wait for further information, he is currently in the ICU.
Singer Josey Scott, bassist Dave Novotny, drummer Todd Poole, and guitarists Swinny and Chris D’Abaldo created Saliva in Memphis in 1996. Their 2001 Island Records debut, Every Six Seconds, which featured the massive hits “Click Click Boom” and “Your Illness,” was released. They released Back Into Your System in 2002 and Survival of the Sickest in 2004 as follow-ups. Singer Scott quit he group in 2011 and was replaced by Bobby Amaru; the group’s most recent album was 2018’s 10 Lives.
Singer Amaru said in a statement to TMZ, “Right now, I’m not even sure what to think or how to feel. My heart breaks for Wayne’s family, his friends, and anybody who had the joy of being around him. My heart breaks for Nikki, his daughter. He was extremely in love with the young child. He would go above and above to make sure you had fun. I’m grateful that I got to share almost 12 years of my life with Wayne on the stage and most importantly off the stage.”
Amaru referred to Swinny — the only remaining original member of the group — as the older brother he never had in his statement. “I learned so much from him and we had a f—ing blast together!,” he said. “I will cherish it all for the rest of my life! God Bless you Wayne. I know we’ll meet again!!”
Saliva is in the midst of a U.S. tour, with the next scheduled date on March 29 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.