Allen Blickle, the original drummer for American sludge / progressive stoner rock band Baroness, has passed away at the age of 42.
Blickle was part of Baroness’ formative line-up from its inception in 2003 and remained with the band through a decade of landmark releases – the First and Second EPs, as well as the acclaimed full-lengths Red Album (2007), Blue Record (2009), and Yellow & Green (2012). His precise yet heavy-handed drumming was key to shaping the band’s early sound.
In 2012, during a European tour, Baroness suffered a horrific bus crash near Bath, England, when their vehicle plummeted 30 feet from a viaduct. All nine passengers survived, but injuries were severe. Frontman John Baizley sustained multiple broken bones, while Blickle and bassist Matt Maggioni suffered fractured vertebrae.
The trauma of the crash and its lasting physical effects forced both Blickle and Maggioni to step away from Baroness in early 2013. In a statement at the time, Baizley expressed “utmost sympathy” for their decision, noting the accident left “indelible marks, external and internal, physical and mental.”
Although Blickle later transitioned into sound design and music composition, friends and peers have hinted that the long-term impact of the crash may have continued to haunt him.
No official cause of death has been released, but tributes have poured in across social media. Laura Pleasants of Kylesa shared an emotional remembrance:
“Dear Allen… I was so heartbroken when talking with Joe and Summer the other day; finding out how the past month was. I am just gutted, dude. We all thought you had this thing beat. … Spending time with you out here, playing music, going to shows, hanging at a pool party, rocking the Hell out to FEAR… getting to know you on a deeper level was a real privilege. You were a REAL one! So talented, so rad. Gone too soon my friend. I’m glad you are at peace and no longer in pain. Much love to you. RIP Allen Blickle.”
Allen Blickle’s death is a painful reminder of the crash’s lasting shadow, more than a decade after it occurred. His contributions to Baroness’ early discography remain essential to the band’s legacy, and his drumming continues to influence a new generation of heavy musicians.
