Arrest Made in the Beating Death of Pioneering Bronx Rocker Frontman

Peter “P. Fluid” Forrest died last Monday (January 13) after being badly beaten. A co-worker found the former 24-7 Spyz frontman unconscious in his ambulette van Monday. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Later, a medical examiner’s report stated that blunt force trauma to the head and body caused his death. Friday (January 17), police arrested who they believe to be Forrest’s assailant.

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The NYPD arrested 29-year-old Sharif Bodden in connection to Forrest’s death. Authorities charged him with murder, manslaughter, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and criminal possession of a weapon, according to News 12 Bronx. This was not Bodden’s first run-in with the law. At the time of his arrest, he was on parole for robbery.

Peter “P. Fluid” Forrest Was a Rock Pioneer

Peter Forrest, known professionally as P. Fluid was a founding member and the former frontman of the Bronx-based rock band 24-7 Spyz. The band was one of several Black-led rock bands that emerged in the ‘80s. Their contemporaries included Fishbone, Living Colour, and Bad Brains.

The Black Rock Coalition released a statement after Forrest’s death. “Fluid was one of the most creative, charismatic, energetic, and powerful frontmen in the business. His stage presence and dynamic personality were matched only by a rare few,” they wrote. “His presence helped put 24-7 Spyz on the map as one of the most powerful bands in rock music and an essential part of the BRC family. He was a signature on two critical albums in the Spyz catalog, Harder Than You and Gumbo Millennium,” they added.

“Peter ‘P. Fluid’ Forrest was an essential chapter to an essential band in the BRC’s history. P. Fluid was family, to 24-7 Spyz and the BRC and we love him. We pray for him. We pray for his family. And we DEMAND justice,” the statement ended.

Forrest was a founding member of 24-7 Spyz. He contributed to their first two albums—Harder Than You (1989) and Gumbo Millennium (1990)—he left the band after the release of their sophomore record while they were on tour with Jane’s Addiction.

Featured Image by Michael Uhll /Redferns