Former LUNGBRUSH vocalist succumbs to cancer

Former LUNGBRUSH singer Troy “Roach” Coates died yesterday (Saturday, March 21) after a 13-month battle with a rare form of adrenal cancer. He was 43 years old.

According to his bio, “Roach fought to get metal and all heavy/hardcore music back to the forefront of the Chicago music scene and into the bigger venues like The Metro andt House of Blues. LUNGBRUSH and Roach worked endlessly to unite Chicago bands, and due to his persistence with people such as Joe Shanahan from the Metro, bands like DISTURBED, SOIL, MACABRE, FIVE POINTE O, RELATIVE ASH, YAKUZA (and the list goes on) were given a chance. These larger venues were selling out shows, bands were getting signed to good record deals, and the next generation of metal had a path to follow.”

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/roach_chicago