Rick Froberg of Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, Pitchfork and Obits died over the weekend at age 55. His girlfriend, Britt, posted on Rick’s Instagram on Sunday, writing that his sudden death was due to an undiagnosed heart condition:
as his long-time friend and current sweetie, i’m relieved to tell you that he went quickly and did not suffer a lingering end —a thing that would suit him not. fast, savage, and without bullshit; such as he fancied in life.
right now, everything about this loss feels impossible but Rick’s family and i are powerfully backed by the strength of his long-forged and far-reaching community. sure as shit, we’ll bear the unbearable together and advance his art and spirit, not as memory, but as a living force forever shaping lives and futures.
Rick Froberg was a world unto himself with incomparable talent and intellect, but most importantly a fierce force of nature with a heart of gold. he was authenticity incarnate & a deep soul —and he will be missed beyond words. let’s play his music, devour his art, make things in his honor, and *continue* this fucking amazing man.
our hearts are with his band mates, innumerable friends, and everyone that was moved by Rick’s existence. we love you as he loved you.
Many friends and fellow artists have posted tributes. Obits wrote, “He was a generous friend and an inspiring bandmate. Rick championed things otherwise lost in the margins. He loved the details of ephemera from events long forgotten. He studied the techniques of people whose work he admired. And he was incredibly funny. Rick’s ability to penetrate to the core was unique. He sought out beauty where things had been discarded. He celebrated the absurdity of the human condition. And he wanted to stay up late to talk about it.”
Mac McCaughan from Superchunk and Merge Records (who put out a Jehu 7″ in 1992) wrote, “Rick’s lyrics and delivery in all his bands was never less than intense and powerful. His art is amazing as well and we got him to make a rather hilarious tour poster for us and @rftcrftc …When Rick sent the art to our screen printers they got in touch with us to make sure it was what the artist intended 😂… Rick’s answer of course was “yes!”
You can read tributes to Rick from Brendan Canty (Fugazi, Messthetics), METZ, Thursday, Jeff Rosenstock, Ted Leo, Jenny Lewis, Into It Over It, Justin Brannan, Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz, Sad13), and more below.
Are emojis bad when you have too many words but can’t find them anyway? Farewell, Rick Froberg. Friend, fellow traveler, often guide. 🖤🖤🖤
— Continuity Ted Leo Account 🍉 (@tedleo) July 2, 2023
Heartbroken by the loss of our beloved friend Rick. A beautiful person and true inspiration. We feel fortunate to have shared the stage with you, toured together, drank together, laughed together. Your music, art and friendship will forever mean the world to us. We Love you! pic.twitter.com/g09u2EBPph
— METZtheband (@METZtheband) July 2, 2023
Rick had a massive influence on us as well. No one had a voice like Rick and probably no one ever will. Love and Respect forever. ❤️ https://t.co/ASiaed5eZU
— thursdayband (@thursdayband) July 2, 2023
Rick Froberg Forever 💖https://t.co/Xv7VfVLGun
— Jeff Rosenstock (@jeffrosenstock) July 3, 2023
https://twitter.com/intoitoverit/status/1675342724340363267
Rest in peace, Rick Froberg 💔
We have lost one of the most powerful voices and unique guitar players in rock music. pic.twitter.com/ITmq7gDNFL
— Merge Records (@mergerecords) July 3, 2023
rest in peace rick froberg 😭
i love yank crime so much that i made a hanes & sharpie
drive like jehu t -shirt in 1999
BLESS!— jenny lewis (@jennylewis) July 2, 2023
https://twitter.com/sad13/status/1675316835946774528
R.I.P. Rick Froberg pic.twitter.com/OwB0aSWaWZ
— Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) July 2, 2023
Immeasurable https://t.co/rZ4SA6qUt4
— David Knudson (@DavidKnudson) July 2, 2023
https://twitter.com/timmidyett/status/1675573230705180673
Very sad to hear Rick Froberg has gone. An almighty musician. I spent a couple of evenings with him in Barcelona a few years back and he was as lovely as he was talented. What a body of work he’s left
— Modern Nature (@m0dernnature) July 2, 2023
RIP Rick Froberg. Incredible songwriter and a really sweet guy.
— GTB GTB GTB (@The_Gotobeds) July 2, 2023
drive like jehu’s two albums possess such a rare energy, frenetic etches from and for the fringe. so totally their own, and influential to so many. also, such a kind human whenever our paths crossed. rest in peace, rick froberg pic.twitter.com/sx7RxpwzLb
— RVNG Intl. (@rvngintl) July 3, 2023
Shocked and saddened to hear about #RickFroberg. He was a preternatural musician, artist and all-around swell guy. We’re eternally grateful for all his creative output, including the iconic logo he created for us. Sail on, Rick. The world is much poorer for your passing. pic.twitter.com/NbRCSeTPI2
— BIBLICAL (@BIBLICALBAND) July 2, 2023
Go see your heroes every chance you get. You never know if that’s the last time you’ll see them perform. No matter the amount you saw them live or how worn the record grooves got, it never seems like it’s enough when they’re gone. Rest in Peace, Rick. #rickfroberg #drivelikejehu pic.twitter.com/tf9ZUECmj9
— Washed Up Emo (@washedupemo) July 2, 2023
Rick Froberg Remembered
listen to Kreative Kontrol w/@vishkhanna ⬇️
more: https://t.co/gxItXq9zv0
photo by: O. pic.twitter.com/wNR8wH0zOJ
— Kreative Kontrol (@VishKreative) July 3, 2023
https://twitter.com/jennylsq/status/1675627741318729729
https://twitter.com/newartillery/status/1675571205292556288
We at Rev are huge fans of Rick Froberg’s art. His passing is a blow to the music world. Listen to some Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, Pitchfork, Obits, etc.
— Revelation Records (@RevelationRecs) July 2, 2023
Yooo man Yank Crime was mad formative for me, I had been playing guitar for like 5 yrs or so when it came out, learned it front to back, can’t explain how magical it felt playing the Do U Compute riff for the first time. Thanks Rick Froberg and Drive Like Jehu. ❤️🔥
— Mike Bones (@mvbones1980) July 2, 2023
RIP rick froberg, who ruled https://t.co/9f1CQv2PUD
— rob harvilla (@harvilla) July 2, 2023
RIP Rick Froberg. My hero.
— Meat Wave (@meatwaveband) July 2, 2023
So incredibly sad to hear about Rick Froberg. Loved him as a friend, singer, artist, songwriter. A super cool person that never made a bad record in a thirty year career. And a very fun hang. We’ll all miss ya, Rick. This btw is the greatest 7” of all time pic.twitter.com/A8McvNnC0v
— Anthony Roman (@Antonharmony) July 2, 2023