Having a love for independent music genres like hard rock and punk, Dave Shapiro eventually turned that love into a full-blown career. Besides being an accomplished talent agent, Shapiro also owned Sound Talent Group (STG). Helping nurture careers for groups like Sum 41, Parkway Drive, Set it Off, Story of the Year, and Silverstein, the talent agent sadly passed away on Thursday when the plane he was riding in crashed in San Diego, California.
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Early Thursday morning, reports surfaced that a plane had crashed in San Diego. Among those on the plane included Shapiro and two other STG employees. Outside of the STG employees, the 1985 Cessna Citation was also transporting other individuals.
Saddened over the news, a spokesperson for STG released a statement, reading, “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.”
Dave Shapiro Loved Flying Almost More Than Music
Moving past his time in the studio, Shapiro also loved to fly. Taking his first flying lesson at 22, the talent agent admitted that flying helped him focus. During a 2020 podcast, he said, “Flying helps me focus and helps me not be distracted by all the nonsense in the world, and whatever’s going on outside the plane kind of doesn’t matter in those moments.” He even opened a flight school called Velocity Aviation.
With Shapiro known for being an adrenaline junkie, his aviation website shined a light on his thrill-seeking lifestyle. “From BASE jumping to aerobatic flying, Helicopters to twin engines, flight instructing to furthering his own education, doesn’t matter to Dave as long as he gets to be in the sky.”
Always willing to offer advice to those looking to break into the music industry, Shapiro explained the importance of love and how it drove passion. He once revealed in a podcast, “Finding something you love to do is only going to make you do a better job because you actually care. You’re not just showing up for the paycheck, it’s not a 9-to-5. This is part of living your life if you really love it.”
Living his life to the fullest, STG and the rest of the music industry are sure to miss the passion and drive Shapiro brought to music.
(FOX 11 Los Angeles, 2025)
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