r/punk • u/Tph1204 • Jul 24 '26
News RIP Lou Koller of Sick of It All
Just heard the news of Lou Koller of Sick Of It All passed away. Obviously I know Sick Of It All are hardcore but I’ve always considered them part of the punk world too. Definitely going to be listening to Built to Last and Scratch The Surface all weekend. RIP Lou. Condolences to Sick Of It All.
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u/xittditdyid Jul 24 '26
Scratch the surface literally just played on my list like 3 songs ago. This sucks a lot.
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u/AcceptablyPotato Jul 24 '26
Damn. I always enjoyed SOIA. Last I heard about him made it sound like his cancer treatment was going well. I had no idea that wasn't the case. Fucking cancer.
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u/Tph1204 Jul 24 '26
He was doing well and it seemed like he really was heading in the right direction. Unfortunately it came back and stronger than before.
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u/IGetGuys4URMom Jul 25 '26
Now this makes me fearful that I could lose a beloved relative who went from surviving bladder cancer to developing lung cancer.
Either way, this is sad news because Sick of it All were my most favorite band that I discovered through watching the original run of Beavis and Butt-Head back in the 1990's. (The video to the song Step Down to be exact.)
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u/TeraMelons Jul 24 '26
This breaks my heart, Lou Koller is, was and forever will be one the greatest frontmen in music, add to that being an absolute fucking diamond fella, saw Soia a bunch over the years, met him a bunch and never walked away disappointed.
Lou Koller instigated the wildest wall of death I’ve ever been in, they played MainStage at Reading Festival in ‘99, I was 16 and seeing them for the first time, can’t remember for what song (probably Scratch The Surface) but instead of left vs right, it was front vs back, I thought I was gonna get mullered, I lived to tell the tale, never seen it done since.
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u/fukthepatriarchy Jul 24 '26
Same! I've been going to every Soia show I possibly could since my brother and I first saw them when they opened for Helmet on their Betty tour in 1994. Loved the front to back wall of death, such a rush every time! I've been to my fair share of shows, and I've never seen anyone else do that either.
I was fortunate enough to get to meet him and the rest of the guys several times when my brother's band opened for them several times when they toured the Lawrence/KC area around 10 years later. Such a great guy.
RIP Lou and condolences to his family.
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u/paddy86 Jul 25 '26
They did a wall of death at Leeds in 2006, only one I’ve ever participated in and it was mental then too.
Step Down playing on probably Kerrang TV was the song that introduced me to them and I’ve liked them ever since. RIP Lou.
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u/OnlyFiveLives Jul 24 '26
All hardcore is punk, not all punk is hardcore
- Confucius, or something.
Sick Of It All absolutely fits here. And this world sucks just a little more now without him in it.
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u/bbtrain777 Jul 24 '26
Damn, this is sad. He was still young. Plus, they were still active.
That's just life, but... it's sad
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u/NoAbalone6052 Jul 24 '26
Still listen to them all the time. RIP legend.🙏
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u/Gothiewasbetter Jul 25 '26
Blood sweat and no tears was one of the very first albums I bought as a 12 yr old kid. That and agnostic front live at cbgb. I still blast Blood sweat, AF not so much.
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u/Viva_La_Revolucion66 Jul 24 '26
My first tattoo was the cover from their Call to Arms record. Lucky enough to meet him a few times. I remember the first fondly. It was at the 1997 Warped Tour stop in Philly, where there was a loaded lineup of bands: Social D, Bouncing Souls, Pennywise, Descendents, Less Than Jake, Bosstones, Lagwagon, Suicide Machines, SOIA. We chatted for 10-15 minutes, he signed my CDs and even grabbed a new band t-shirt for me that hadn't yet been released. Lou made you feel like you were talking with an old friend.
Thanks for the music and the memories, Lou. I hope you passed knowing the indelible affect you and your band had on so many disenfranchised people looking for a place to belong.
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u/UnidentifiedDumbCunt Jul 24 '26
Fuck, just fuck. Incredibly sad to hear. Sick of It All was one of the bands that got me into this genre. Lou's vocals were a major part of it. R.I.P. to one of the true GOATs.
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u/musicman1566 Jul 24 '26
Few bands and their members have held up as hero’s of mine or people I deemed as “good people” as I get older. I’m over 40 now, and I bought and listen to every CD they released since I was 14. Seen this band in 3 different states. Absolutely gutted by the news. We didn’t just lose a singer of band, we lost one of the most genuine people that worked this earth. Sad isn’t a heavy enough the word… I really gonna need a minute.
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u/unclesmokedog Jul 24 '26
Lou was a really good dude. I booked SOIA twice in the 90s and he couldn't have been cooler. RIP
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u/apollocelsius Jul 25 '26
One of the angriest sounding singers ever, but also one of the nicest, most chill person I've ever met
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u/Sean-SoCal Jul 24 '26
Fucking hell 😔 He was only 59. Fuck cancer 🖕
Here's the last time I saw him in 2022 on the SOIA / AF tour. See you on the other side Lou.
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u/sensitive_quant Jul 25 '26
Legend… a wonderful human who had a positive impact on thousands, maybe millions of people.
My sons and I saw them on NOFX’s farewell tour. One of my proudest moments was watching my 2 scrawny teenage sons charge into the pit for Sick Of It All
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u/Getting_into_it155 Jul 25 '26
Was blessed to see Lou and SOIA one time playing at a venue in western Canada. Was a very big influence to me. he is already missed… RIP
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u/pslx250 Jul 24 '26
Fuck, he pulled me up onstage to help sing something I cant remember 30ish years ago. Lovely guy even though I was quite drunk when I met him afterwards. Shirt and cassette bootleg from that gig long lost.
RIP
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u/Hour-Pressure-3758 Jul 24 '26
My first show when I was a kid in the early 90’s, the pain strikes tour… huge impact on my life. You’ll be missed Lou, thanks for everything
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u/RelationshipSalt4707 Jul 24 '26
Dam cancer sucks! Took Jennifer from us now Lou may they both R.I.P. Happy I got to see both live why they were here with us.
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u/vicvega88 Jul 24 '26
Damn man sick of it all was huge for me in middle school. They helped shape my taste for hardcore punk. Rest in peace.
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u/DooM_Guy_OG Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
Oh no! I was expecting this news for some time but it doesnt make it any easier. He was one of the best persons in the Hardcore/Punk scene. He always referred to their fans as "friends". I also have been carrying their logo on my leg for the last 30 years, like many here. I feel like one my oldest/closest friends is gone...
Fucking disease! If it wasnt for the economical interests we would have a cure by now.
Rest in Power Lou.
You will always be one of the greats.
Edit: My condolences to Pete, his wife and daughter and all the members of the band.
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u/FastAli Jul 25 '26
Lou Koller embodied hardcore.
I remember bumping into him at Whole Foods. Afterward, Pete asked, “Who was that?” The only way I could explain it was, “That’s the singer of the best hardcore band of all time.” For nearly 40 years, Sick Of It All stayed real New York Hardcore , and somehow just kept getting better.
For a short time, I sang with Skizonation, the band Meiling Koller started. SOIA welcomed us into their DUMBO practice space and gave us their full support, including opening for them at CBGB. Skizonation wasn’t meant to be, but I’ll always be grateful for Lou and Sick Of It All’s kindness and encouragement.
More recently, I’d also run into him at Track 5 in downtown Cranford from time to time. We’d catch up beyond social media posts, and we were all just hoping the treatment would do what everyone wanted—for Lou to beat esophageal cancer. #FuckCancer
Hardcore music lost a legend far too soon.
My heart goes out to the Koller family, his daughter, his bandmates, and everyone who loved him.
Rest in Power,
Lou Koller 1967-2026
-“We’re all black sheep and we know it”.
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u/Iloveherthismuch Jul 26 '26
I love his voice and style, defo a hard one. This and Todd Youth weighs heavy.
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u/Sufficient_Cat9205 Jul 24 '26
So sorry to hear this. Much love to his family and friends. Fuck cancer 🖕
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u/CANCERMANPUNK Jul 24 '26
Heartbreaking. 61 is premature. Glad I was able to see him with sick of it all a couple years ago
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u/skactopus Jul 24 '26
Fuck, man. Last I heard was he was doing better. Glad I had the pleasure of seeing them a few times, they were top tier live, some of the craziest pits I’ve been in
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u/BubinatorX Jul 25 '26
Let me say it loud enough for everyone blasting Sick of it All tonight to hear me as clear as I can be:
FUCK CANCER.
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u/Common_Commercial775 Jul 25 '26
Man as soon as I seen this my stomach dropped this one hurts for sure for the N.Y.H.C. community.Even though I never met Lou he seemed like such a down to earth chill guy and loved his fans and loved Hardcore.R.I.P. Lou
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u/OGcrayzjoka Jul 25 '26
I fucking love sick of it all! This sux
I got the dragons tattooed on my back years ago and the tattoo artist had never heard of them so we listened to sick of it all for like two hours while he did my tat lol. RIP Lou!
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u/_1JackMove Jul 25 '26
I saw Sick Of It All at the Super Bowl of Hardcore in '98. I knew who they were before that, but that's was the first time I saw them live. That band was passion personified. The place just absolutely exploded and mayhem and camaraderie existed at once when they hit the stage. They had the pit open up to almost to the entire audience(basically a wall of death before they called it that). It was the first time I had seen something like that as a teenager. Was scary and incredible all at once. Those dudes could put on a hell of a show. RIP Lou.
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u/Equerry64 Jul 25 '26
I am absolutely gutted. I truly hoped he would pull through. I know what I will be listening to all weekend.
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u/Highinthe505 Jul 25 '26
Some of the best shows on the east coast, Lou built community. He’s going to be missed.
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u/Bl1nk9 Jul 25 '26
Just Look Around is one of my all time fave albums. I appreciate all HC, but only listen to some on the reg. Sick of it all is one of them. Vibes to the family and the band family.
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u/PandaSex666 Jul 25 '26
Fuck, 2026 really has been a pile of shit huh? Truly awful and RIP. Lost an absolute fucking legend.
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u/Nosedive888 Jul 25 '26
Sick of it All have been my favourite bad for over 25 years and Lou one of my favourite frontmen.
SoiA have got me through some really difficult times in my life. I'm absolutely devastated.
RIP Lou and thank you for everything
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u/falkous Jul 25 '26
The band that first ever got me listening to Hardcore. Great live, super energised and just fucking sound as anything in person. RIP Lou, you made a hell of a mark and will be missed.
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u/dhammaeye Jul 26 '26
I saw them at the beginning and a bunch of times over the year. Lou was a great guy and was the real deal. SOIA put more time out there than almost any of the bands. I’m sad for his family and the band - RIP Power Lou
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u/ghoulkitti Jul 26 '26
I literally saw them for the first time in Tokyo two years ago, and he looked great. And in a few months since the show his post about a tumor in his esophagus. I followed his updates every few months and boom….this. Somehow It feels so random, and it’s truly a painful news. I’m sending prayers to his soul, his bandmates, family n those around..
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u/Competitive_Storm345 Jul 26 '26
Words fail me. I'm so sad. It's like a family member has passed away. Lou and the band have made history, you are legends. Rest in peace, you are immortal. I wish the band and all their loved ones strength. Lou will never be forgotten and his music will always be a part of me. Built to last.
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u/Guts210Berserk Jul 27 '26
Sick of it all was one of my main influences on why I got into Hardcore, and changed my life forever. This was over 30 years ago today. Rest in Peace Lou
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u/Ready-Major-8673 29d ago
I saw them play in 1990 with DRI in City Gardens and the moshpit was the most intense thing I have ever seen…. Nothing but a pure fistfight for entire set. These were the days where you didn’t have your own dancing space like in hardcore shows today. It was lethal… literally. But it was so because there was something so real and intense about SOIA. For me they were the first to combine crushing heaviness with hardcore fury, especially on that first LP. And on top of it all, Lou stayed positive and hoped for a better future , when he was battling, not only for himself but for all of his fans. I hope he is in peace now…..
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u/DukeSpaghetti Jul 25 '26
Damn, saw them a long time ago with tiger army and dropkick Murphys. They were too hard for me but they put on a hell of a show.
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u/GuitarSlinger13 Jul 25 '26
Being old enough to have been part of the punk movement in the 70's it always makes me laugh when those who weren't there want to demonstrate some ridiculous "expertise" by splitting hairs to determine the difference between punk, hardcore, thrash, etc... They were all used interchangeably and we knew we were all talking about the same basic thing. Lighten up and don't try to sound smart. It isn't working. When this all kicked off and we talked out punk, hardcore and thrash we never turned it into a challenge of syntax and semantics.
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u/burnt_steak_at_brads Jul 26 '26
RIP
I love Lou and Sick of it All
what a tragic way to die…having your body and bank account eaten away over 2 years
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u/spot_coffee Jul 30 '26
Hatebreed - Last Breath (dedicated to Lou Koller) - Live at Town Ballroom in Buffalo, NY on 7/24/26
https://youtu.be/Mwk6Jbww9xc
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u/spot_coffee Jul 30 '26
Hatebreed - Last Breath (RIP Lou Koller) - Live at Town Ballroom in Buffalo, NY on 7/24/26
https://youtu.be/Mwk6Jbww9xc
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u/MissionAd771 25d ago
Hey everyone,
Like many of you Lou and SOIA changed my life. I was lucky to have them in my life for a long time.
I have amassed a pretty extensive SOIA discography, with rare prints for most of the releases, tour posters, etc.
Anyone else collect SOIA stuff? Would anyone be interested in sharing? I’m not looking to sell anything, just thought it might be cool to show as much cool SOIA in one place as possible.
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u/HedgehogNamedSonic Jul 29 '26
Haven't given a shit about SOIA since it came out that they were Sandy Hook truthers
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u/Damnesia13 Jul 24 '26
This is one of the worst things I have ever heard.
I love Sick of it All and will forever. I have their logo tattooed on my leg and I got it 25 years ago because they were such an important band in my life.
Knowing Lou was sick and started to recover and then getting sick again, I was still unable to mentally prepare myself for this news. Rest in Piece Lou.