Owen Leahy, best known as a member of the Massachusetted-based emo rock band This Is Pointless, has passed away at the age of 28. Leahy died on Monday, January 6, and reports indicate that the musician “passed away suddenly”. Further details on his death have not been released. However, a friend and fellow band member of Leahy’s noted in a Facebook post that the bassist unfortunately struggled with a substance abuse relapse.
The announcement of his passing came recently via an online obituary from Cota Funeral Homes, as well as a GoFundMe that was recently launched. The GoFundMe was created to support his family and help them with funeral “and other related expenses.” The crowdfunding campaign quickly surpassed its goal of $20,000 and is currently sitting at around $29,000. The campaign was organized by Juliet Cruz, a friend of Leahy’s, on behalf of his bereaved family.
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“I’m absolutely heartbroken to have learned about the passing of my best friend Owen Leahy today,” Cruz said of the rock musician’s death on the GoFundMe page. “Many of you know me as Juliet, I’m very close with Owen’s family and [at] this time I would like to alleviate them from having to worry about funding their son’s funeral and other related expenses to his passing.”
All proceeds from the GoFundMe event will go to Brendan Leahy, Owen’s father.
Remembering Musician Owen Leahy’s Legacy in Emo Rock in the Wake of His Death
Owen Leahy was born in Winchester, Massachusetts and was raised in Reading. Leahy was described by many as an incredible talent and “a carpenter by trade and a musician by choice.”
He was a member of This Is Pointless, a Boston-based emo rock group. Leahy co-founded the group and played bass within the band. Leahy’s legacy goes far beyond his music contributions, as well.
“In the community of recovery, Owen was a mentor, a support system, and dedicated to helping those looking to change their lives for the better,” his obituary reads. “Owen was proud to have celebrated 10 years of his own sobriety. If you had the privilege of becoming a friend of Owen’s, you were a friend for life. He would do anything for those he loved and those in need.”
This Is Pointless also released a statement about Leahy on Facebook.
“Owen loved everything about DIY emo,” notes the post, which was penned by the band’s guitarist Rob. “He loved being in a band, he loved going to basement shows, he loved playing shows, and he loved the community. It is impossible for me to express how special and out-going he was.”
Fans can listen to This Is Pointless via the band’s Bandcamp. We wish Leahy’s family and loved ones nothing but the best during this difficult time.
Photo via Cota Funeral Homes
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