Dean Karr, a photographer and video director from Los Angeles, shared the obituary for his friend, Amen frontman Casey Chaos, who passed away less than a week ago at 59.
“Hardcore Punk singer Casey Chaos (Karim Chmielinski) of the band Amen passed away on December 20, 2024, at roughly 10:20 p.m. in his Laurel Canyon home,” Karr wrote on social media. “He was excited for his mother’s arrival from Melbourne, Florida, to spend Christmas with him and had sent a limousine to retrieve her from LAX airport.”
He continued, “The mother arrived at 10:45 p.m. and after no response to her knocking on the door, she let herself in with a spare key. Upon opening the door, she discovered Casey sitting on the floor with his back against the sofa and head tilted back. He had suffered a massive heart attack.”
“Casey had been dealing with heart issues, poor circulation, and high blood pressure for the last few years. Regardless, we lost a great man/musician/friend/son. Casey proved to the industry to always be yourself – NO rules applied to this rock icon! Casey Chaos had also played bass in Christian Death with Rozz Williams and Rikk Agnew,” Karr added.
He then noted, “Other bands include Disorderly Conduct and Scum. Power hitters Dave Lombardo, Roy Mayorga, and Shannon Larkin have laid down drum tracks to be included in an upcoming new Amen album being finished in London by John King and Oliver Kenny!”
“Casey was cremated on 12/23/24 at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood, CA. Memorial services for Casey will be announced at a later date. Casey Chaos is survived by his mother, Tambil Chmielinski, and her dog Momo,” Karr also explained.
Cleopatra Records founder Brian Perera and his friends, Skum Love and Karr, confirmed Chaos’ death on December 21. Amen bassist John Fahnestock expressed his sadness in a post, saying, “With a heavy heart and a tear in my eye, I must announce that we lost another legend today. I’ve lost two legendary frontmen in my career, and Casey has now also passed on. It was an absolute honor to have been in Amen and witnessed without a doubt the genius that was Casey Chaos.”
He also said, “He was a force unlike no other before him, a true artist, an uncompromising soul, and a true punk rock icon! This is hard for me. I sit here going over all the memories. Just speechless.”
Chaos worked with artists like System of a Down, Queens of the Stone Age, Scum, and Christian Death during his career. Amen, formed in Los Angeles in 1994, became well-known with their 2000 album ‘We Have Come For Your Parents.’
