This Sucks: We Say Goodbye to Dave Sweetapple

We’ve lost such a talent. Dave Sweetapple, one of if not the fucking powerhouse of stoner band Witch and blackened doom band Eerie, has passed away at the young age of 58.

This shitty news came out late this past week, with tons of tribute posts and condolences flooding social media from everyone from musicians he’s worked with to festivals he’s played. No cause of death has been determined or released, but Tee Pee Records owner Kenny Sehgal shared that he passed in his sleep, according to the initial post made in Brooklyn Vegan.

Festival-wise, Roadburn and Desertfest NYC both expressed remorse and deep sadness. “Dave Sweetapple left an indelible mark on the lives of many, many people and will be sorely missed. Not only was he a talented musician himself but he also nurtured creativity in others, as a mentor, facilitator, and guide,” read a post from Roadburn Fest.

Desertfest NYC expressed similar sentiments with “Dave Sweetapple was an integral part in us launching Desertfest NYC back in 2019. We are shocked & devastated to hear of his sudden passing. Talented, captivating & caring beyond measure, Dave had a wicked sense of humour & touched the lives of so many ❤️???? Our love & thoughts are with Robin, all his many friends & family plus the Witch & Tee Pee Records crew. – Sarika, Reece, Matte, Jake & the whole DF NYC team.”

One of the harder ones to read came from Fucked Up’s Damian Abraham, who detailed music and friendship memories between the two of them.

“RIP DAVE SWEETAPPLE. The first time I met Dave was at the 2008 SXSW. I approached him and @jmascis at a show Fucked Up was playing and he immediately asked me is I knew about Sudden Impact and within minutes we were exchanging our favorite Schzoid songs and bonded for life. Dave’s impact on music was immense and too big to sum up with a single band, really. While he certainly played in some amazing bands, he also took photos for countless zines and records (Dag Nasty’s 85-86, to name one). He also co-ran the awesomely underrated Mag Wheel Records, in its early years; as well as doing behind the scenes work at Tee Pee Records. I can’t tell you how much it hurts to know I’ll never get to talk Maritimes punk and HC with him again. Sending love to the whole Dinosaur Jr. extended family. I love you all so much. I’m crying looking at your picture Dave and I know you would be cracking on me for it. Give O a big hug for all of us and AF’s version of Crucified still smokes the original. I love you.”

J. Mascis, Sweetapple’s bandmate in Witch and his band Sweet Apple, canceled his Outlandia Festival slot with Dinosaur Jr. due to a “death in the family.”

We’ll miss ya, dude. Here’s a particularly detailed and beautifully written obituary by OVH Funeral Services.