Dave Allison, original guitarist for the cult thrash metal band Anvil, has died at the age of 68. He reportedly passed away after a battle with cancer.
Allison shared guitar duties in Anvil alongside frontman Steve “Lips” Kudlow from 1981 through 1989, performing on five studio albums, including fan favorites Metal on Metal (1982) and Forged in Fire (1983). The 1989 live album, Past and Present: Live in Concert, would be Allison’s final record with the band.
The band shared the following statement via The Vinyl Frontier Canada:
“We’d like to send our deepest condolences to the Allison family and friends. Dave passed away this morning. He was a close friend and we will miss him. He was proud of his early contributions to ANVIL, and his name and legacy live on. Rest in peace, Dave Squirly Allison.”
Both Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner each paid personal tribute to the late guitarist on social media.
Posted Kudlow: “Rest in peace Dave Allison January 5, 1956 to September 30, 2024…we will miss you brother!!”
Meanwhile, Reiner recounted a recent unplanned visit with Allison at the latter’s isolated cabin, a meeting that revealed Allison’s declining health.
“The word just reached me… Original band mate R.I.P. Dave Allison has passed away…” wrote Reiner [via Facebook]. “Had the opportunity this Spring to pay a unplanned surprise visit to Dave’s isolated cabin …Loneliness was no stranger to him: To say he was in shock was an understated fact..blown away was more like it:…and so was I. The visit covered memories (many) and exposed his dire state:.. He was not well ..clearly: Together we planned a dinner that unfortunately never happened… R.I.P. my old friend.”
Jeff Waters of Annihilator, one of Anvil’s contemporaries in the Canadian metal scene, also paid his respects.
“Thoughts to all… he sure left his mark on those classic records and I sure looked up to him (and the other 3) every time I snuck into The Chaud, The British and Le Papillon,” Waters wrote in the comments on Anvil’s original post [via BraveWords]. “RIP Dave. Thanks for your part in my mind and my music.”
Allison got the chance to rejoin his bandmates onstage in April 2017 at Red Dog in Peterborough, Ontario, performing three songs: “Metal on Metal,” “Forged in Fire,” and a cover version of “Born to Be Wild.” Check out audience footage from that night below.