Legendary Minn. Punk Rock Musician Drowns

Beej Chaney, the founding guitarist of Minnesota punk rock band The Suburbs has died at age 68.

According to multiple reports, the musician drowned while swimming in the Pacific Ocean near his home in Southern California on Sunday. As The Minnesota Star Tribune noted, Chaney swam almost daily, but according to KSTP, on Sunday, a body believed to be his was discovered by police, who deemed the cause of death accidental drowning.

Chaney played with The Suburbs while at the height of their musical career in the 1970s and 1980s. Following The Suburbs' split in 1987, he relocated to Los Angeles in 1990. When the band reunited in 1992, his participation was sporadic. Although he contributed to their 2013 album "Si Sauvage" — their first in 27 years — Chaney officially left the group the following year.

After the 2009 death of Bruce Allen, a Suburbs' original guitarist, Steve Brantseg, a longtime friend and admirer of Chaney, became a member of the band. There appeared to be no ill will between Chaney and his former bandmates, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported, noting a performance at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in Los Angeles in 2018, which Chaney attended.

"He hung out a long time and was superexcited to see us all," Brantseg told the outlet.

News of Chaney's death was met with an outpouring of messages, with friends and musicians alike remembering him.

Leading the tributes was his former band.

"By now, you've all heard the news," The Suburbs band members wrote, according to KSTP. "We lost another to Rock n' Roll Heaven. Beej Chaney was a true rock star from the day I first met him when we were kids.

"He was a true original who lived his art, whether climbing the lighting rig or painting his beloved rock people. He was a beloved father, and a friend to many. Our hearts go out to his girls; Jesse, Kit, Cali, and Sarah, who cared for him always. Rock on, brother."

Jonny Clifford of HiFi Hair and Records also honored his memory.

"Probably one of the best frontmen we've ever seen in our city as far as our local garage music goes. He left everything on the stage and a little bit out on the floor when he would crowd surf. Nobody was doing stuff like that back then," he said.

"His voice defined an era of Minneapolis music and set the tone for the next generations to come," added Twin/Tone Record, the studio that released the band's first album. "The Suburbs were a foundational band for the label and helped pave a lot of road for other groups to travel much easier along."

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