Casey Chaos, iconic singer of the hardcore punk scene and frontman of the group Amen, died on December 20, 2024 at his home in Laurel Canyon, California, following a devastating heart attack. The death of the artist, whose real name was Karim Chmielinski, was announced by his close friend, director and photographer Dean Karr, in a tribute published on social networks.
A sudden death in full preparation for the holidays
According to Dean Karr, Casey Chaos was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his mother, who had come from Melbourne, Florida, to spend Christmas with him. He even sent a limo to pick her up at LAX airport. Arriving at his home at 10:45 p.m., his mother, worried about not receiving a response, entered with a spare key and found Casey slumped against the sofa, his head tilted back.
Casey Chaos had suffered from heart problems, poor circulation and high blood pressure for several years.
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An uncompromising artist
Dean Karr described his friend as a legendary and uncompromising figure in the rock and punk scene: “Casey proved to the industry that you should always be yourself, without applying rules. He was a true rock icon.”
In addition to his role in Amen, Casey Chaos had also collaborated with groups like Christian Death, Disorderly Conduct and Scum.
A posthumous album in preparation
Despite this tragic loss, work on Amen’s fifth studio album, which has been in progress for several years, will continue. Renowned drummers such as Dave Lombardo (ex-Slayer), Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour) and Shannon Larkin (Godsmack) have already recorded tracks for this opus, which will be finalized in London by John King and Oliver Kenny.
The first recording sessions took place in 2014 under the direction of Ross Robinson, producer behind iconic albums by Slipknot and Korn.
A tribute paid by his loved ones and admirers
Casey Chaos was cremated on December 23, 2024 at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood. Dean Karr invited fans and friends of Casey to share their memories and photos to honor his memory.
A memorial service will be announced soon. Casey Chaos leaves behind his mother, Tambil Chmielinski, and her dog, Momo.
