All four of the band members of the metalcore collective Every Time I Die paid tribute to departed guitarist Andy Williams. William passed away at the age of 48 after collapsing during an in-ring match in Pennsylvania.
Every Time I Die split up earlier this year, but the band’s founding members — vocalist Keith Buckley, guitarist Jordan Buckley, bassist Stephen Micciche and drummer Clayton “Goose” Holyoak — all paid emotional tributes to Williams on social media, recalling his charisma, warmth and generosity.
Band Members Share Heartfelt Thoughts Over Late Guitarist
Founding vocalist Keith Buckley — who formed Every Time I Die with Jordan Buckley and Williams back in 1998 — shared a story that showed how much of a people-pleaser Williams was. Buckley took to Instagram with a story from 1999 when he bumped into Williams at a local truck stop after a practice.
Guitarist Jordan Buckley posted a picture of the pair outside the movie “Friendship” with a message about missing his friend. Buckley played on the road for 28 years with Williams, so he had a number of choice tales. One story involved the Warped Tour, where Williams asked the production team if it could try to set a world record for having the most hugs during the band’s Chicago stop.
Bassist Stephen Micciche had recently spent four hours dining with Williams in Buffalo before he passed. Micciche praised Williams’ transition to wrestling at 35, declaring him a “walking superhero.” Micciche further revealed that the last song Every Time I Die ever recorded was a cover of Cave In’s “Youth Overrided,” which he and Williams both enjoyed.
Drummer Clayton “Goose” Holyoak uploaded pictures and videos that recalled fun moments from the band’s tours together. Holyoak especially admired how Williams refused to accept criticism, such as when his high school music teacher told him he would never amount to anything. Williams persevered and had a heart, striving to make everything he did happen.
Tributes From The Scene Extend To Live Shows And Wrestling
Ongoing tributes to Williams came from the very corners of the music and wrestling industries during the weekend, with Buckley, Buckley and Holyoak all involved in either live performances or in-ring events.
My Chemical Romance dedicated their song “Boy Division” to Williams during their set at Chase Field in Phoenix tonight. Vocalist Gerry Way told the crowd the performance was dedicated to “The Butcher,” one of Williams’ wrestling personas.
Malakai Black won the Progress Wrestling World Championship over the weekend, later raising the title belt up in the air after the match during a lengthy speech. Black — who called Williams one of his best friends — then led the arena crowd in a large chant in tribute to the late musician.
Details Concerning Williams’ Demise Revealed
Williams died as the result of an incident that occurred during an Enjoy Wrestling show in Pennsylvania.
Williams’ legs buckled during an in-ring match, causing him to collapse at ringside and hit his head on the floor. On-site paramedics immediately administered CPR and used an AED defibrillator provided by responding police before Williams was taken to Allegheny General Hospital at 9:45 PM.
The show was officially cancelled due to the incident, with event organizers being informed of Williams’ passing shortly after attending midnight by his tag team partner Jesse Guilleman. On-site paramedics told the scene that he was likely suffering from a heart attack — although the official cause of death is still pending autopsy results.
