Members of the Metal Community React to the Death of Country Legend Merle Haggard

Yesterday, country legend Merle Haggard passed away at his California home. It was his 79th birthday.

Like BB King, Haggard did not play metal but was immeasurably metal as a person. As one of the pioneers of the Bakersfield sound and the outlaw country music movement, Haggard played songs that portrayed the frayed edges of good ol’ fashioned American society, something he knew about as a hitchhiker and convicted robber who literally grew up in a boxcar.

In response to his death, members of the metal community have posted their own memorials on social media. Here are some selections:

Tip back a cold beer tonight to Merle Haggard. We should all be so lucky to have a career and life of music like that. RIP

— Obituary (@obituarytheband) April 6, 2016

https://twitter.com/evilriver/status/717813800653574145

RIP #MerleHaggard. As authentic as it gets, unlike much of today's mega-commercial "country." One of the real guys. https://t.co/wQCS06vzh5

— Alex Skolnick (@AlexSkolnick) April 6, 2016

Another legend is gone but, his music will live forever….R.I.P. Merle Haggard #realcountrymusic

A photo posted by George CorpseGrinder (@georgecorpsegrinder) on Apr 6, 2016 at 11:22am PDT

https://twitter.com/SOURVEINOFFICAL/status/717783492629819392

Today the world lost a hero, a legitimate outlaw, and one hell of a songwriter, singer, and guitar player. Rest in peace @merlehaggardofficial #merlehaggard #outlawcountry

A photo posted by Spirit Adrift (@spiritadrift) on Apr 6, 2016 at 12:45pm PDT

And of course, the Iron Sheik weighed in, too:

MERLE HAGGARD YOU HAVE WORSE NAME BUT GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER YOU MAKE THE BEST MUSIC.

— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) April 6, 2016

Our condolences to Haggard’s friends and family in this difficult time. We’ll have a whiskey in his honor, but we promise we won’t smoke any marijuana in Muskogee.