SS Decontrol’s Al Barile Has Passed Away After Battle with Cancer

Well, this is some shitty fucking news. We’ve lost a good one in Al Barile, the guitarist for the iconic Boston hardcore band SS Decontrol (SSD). He sadly and unfortunately passed away after battling cancer. He was first diagnosed with the disease in 2023.

Barile’s wife Nancy shared the news on Instagram this morning (Sunday, April 6) along with a homemade anniversary video Barile made of the two a few years ago:

“Hi Everyone, I wanted to let you know that Al Barile passed away this morning. I was with him. You all know he fought a hard, hard battle. He spent last day with Chris, Jaime, Angie, and his best, dear friend Scott, and me, and even though he was on comfort care, it was clear he knew we were all there, and he was so happy about that. I never met anyone who was his own person as much as Al was. No one made me laugh more. There was always a story. We loved each other unbelievably, and my heart is crushed into a million pieces. I am so incredibly grateful for our 43 years together. I can’t even think of how to go on without him, but I know he will ALWAYS be with me. I take great comfort especially, in knowing he and Flippy are now reunited. I want you all to know how much Al appreciated your outpouring of love to him. It truly meant a great deal to him. You know I will have a lot to say about Al’s time on this earth and his impact and his legacy, as the days go on, but for now, I’m going to need some time to be with my closest friends and family. He made this video for our anniversary a few years ago.”

Barile was already in the hospital fighting an infection before his heart stopped. He posted this from his hospital bed a couple of days ago: “I almost died today. My heart stopped. My prognosis isn’t good. I hope I have a few more days, weeks, months, but it looks like days. This may be my last post. I love Nancy.”

Our hearts are with Barile’s friends and family. He’ll most indeed live on through SSD’s legacy and their years of PMA.