Dropout Kings singer Adam Ramey dies aged 32

Adam Ramey, the lead singer of Dropout Kings, has died at the age of 32.

Describing him as their “brother”, the rap-metal band announced on social media that he died yesterday (May 19).

The band posted on Instagram: “With the heaviest hearts, we share that our brother, Adam Ramey has passed away. His passion, energy, and love for music shaped Dropout Kings and touched countless lives.

“We’re devastated to say the least, but Adam’s spirit, charisma and energy will not only forever inspire us, but will push us into the future to be the best that we can. We appreciate you all during this time and know he absolutely did as well for all the times we’ve shared. Thank you for everything, Chip. Rest in power, Adam. We’ll always love you fam.”

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A post shared by DROPOUT KINGS (@dropoutkingsaz)

While his bandmates did not share a cause of death, Ramey’s brother-in-law, mixed martial artist Jamie Varner, set up a GoFundMe to help support Ramey’s wife Jamie and son Jude and wrote that he died by “suicide after a long and painful battle with addiction.”

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A post shared by Jamie Varner (@jamievarner)

Ramey, who would have turned 33 on Saturday (May 24), formed the Phoenix Down in 2016 after his previous band, The Bad Chapter, broke up the previous year. The band, from Phoenix, Arizona, changed their name to Dropout Kings a year later.

He first approached rapper Eddie Wellz to work on a cover of Linkin Park’s ‘Lying From You’ after seeing a video of Wellz on YouTube, before bringing in his old The Bad Chapter bandmates Trevor Norgren, Staig Flynn and Rob Sebastian as well as Chucky Guzman, who he was in We The Collectors alongside.

Dropout Kings released two albums, 2018’s ‘AudioDope’ and 2023’s ‘Riot Music’, while their single ‘Virus’, featuring Shayley Bourget, hit Number 33 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Ramey’s last show with Dropout Kings was at the Orpheum in Tampa, Florida on February 8, while the band had a number of summer dates planned including a run supporting metalcore five-piece Attila in Europe.

Ramey told Heavy Music HQ in 2018 that he got into music after he had “no real hobbies” as a child, explaining: “I liked listening to music and loved learning all the words. I really liked writing. Around high school I started playing drums and learned vocals. I started playing in bands. And after a lot of perseverance I’m here now.”

For help and advice on mental health:

• ‘Am I depressed?‘ – Help and advice on mental health and what to do next
• Help Musicians UK – Around the clock mental health support and advice for musicians
• Music Support Org – Help and support for musicians struggling with alcoholism, addiction, or mental health issues
• YOUNG MINDS – The voice for young people’s health and wellbeing
• CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably for young men
• Time To Change – Let’s end mental health discrimination
• The Samaritans – Confidential support 24 hours a day

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