Celtic Frost Co-Founder Martin Eric Ain Passes Away at Age 50

Martin Eric Ain (ne Martin Stricker), co-founder and bassist of Celtic Frost, passed away yesterday. He was just 50 years old.

20min.ch spoke with Ain’s close friend Jan Graber, who said that Ain “suddenly collapsed when he switched to a different tram” yesterday. Graber elaborated that he wasn’t aware if Ain had any serious health problems but was “somewhat overweight, clearly.”

Ain was born in the United States but later became a dual citizen of the U.S. and Switzerland. Ain played in Celtic Frost from the band’s formation in 1984 through their breakup in 1993, with a brief break in 1986 and a lengthier one between 1988 and 1990. He participated in the band’s reunion in 2001 and remained with them until they disbanded again in 2008. Before the reunion, Ain opened the Mascotte club in Zurich, which he co-owned, where he founded and hosted the club’s successful “Karaoke From Hell” show. He also owned a DVD shop and bar in Zurich called Acapulco.

Ain’s former bandmate Tom Gabriel Fischer offered in a Facebook post:

“I am deeply affected by his passing. Our relationship was very complex and definitely not free of conflicts, but Martin’s life and mine were very closely intertwined, since we first met in 1982.”

On behalf of everyone at MetalSucks, we wish all the best to Ain’s family, friends and bandmates. R.I.P.