Rachel Kurzius
Image via Facebook.
John Stabb, a fixture of the D.C. punk scene and lead singer for Government Issue, died this weekend.
He was diagnosed with malignant stomach cancer in early February, according to a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Stabb’s medical expenses by friend Kevin Young. The “Boycott Cancer” fund has raised $50,600 from 792 people.
A previously scheduled benefit concert on Sunday night at Black Cat for Stabb turned into a sold-out memorial show, with Thurston Moore headlining, and scene mainstays Ian and Alec MacKaye and Shawn Brown going to the stage to eulogize the singer.
“I believe that John timed his passing as his gift to us all, a chance to be together to comfort, connect, and love on each other big time,” said his wife Minda Devadas in a Facebook post, according to WTOP. “His last words were, ‘I love you.’ I know he meant it to be for us all. We love you.”
My dear friend and former band mate, John Stabb, lost his battle with cancer tonight. I will miss him terribly. pic.twitter.com/MleGuWWgK2
— Danny Ingram (@DotDashDC) May 8, 2016
The world has lost one of the most righteous, gentle, weird, angry, and loving souls I’ve ever known. We are worse off without John Stabb
— john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) May 8, 2016
RIP #johnstabb – thanks for forever keeping punk rock true. pic.twitter.com/adw1DpGjAl
— Rock & Roll Hotel (@rocknrollhotel) May 8, 2016
