Photo Credit: Modest Mouse Instagram
Modest Mouse drummer and founding member Jeremiah Green has passed away at the age of 45 following a battle with cancer.
The Portland-based group took to social media to announce the unfortunate news, which arrives only days after Green’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis entered the media spotlight. Modest Mouse lead singer and guitarist Isaac Brock disclosed last week that Green had been “diagnosed with cancer a short while ago,” and treatment seemed “to be going smoothly and making a positive difference.”
But Modest Mouse just recently revealed Green’s December 31st passing in a different post, indicating that the Oahu-born musician had “laid down to rest and simply faded out.” Earlier in December, the veteran drummer played what would be his final show with the group behind “Float On,” “Dashboard,” and “Truckers Atlas.”
“I’d like to say a bunch of pretty words right now, but it just isn’t the time. These will come later, and from many people,” reads the message posted to the official Modest Mouse Instagram account. “Please appreciate all the love you give, get, have given, and will get. Above all, Jeremiah was about love. We love you.”
A number of fans and artists are offering kind words and celebrating the life of Jeremiah Green, who is survived by his wife Lauren and his son Wilder, age six.
“The great Jeremiah Green. My friend, bandmate, and the most creative musician I ever met,” wrote The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, who was part of Modest Mouse between 2006 and 2009.
“without Jeremiah Green, none of those early Modest Mouse records happen, period. his inventiveness and energy absolutely made the band in the early years. huge loss,” penned Camp Trash’s Keegan Bradford.
“Sounds cliché but those early Modest Mouse records were life changing for me. Jeremiah Green’s playing re-wired my brain. Massive rip,” weighed in a supporter.
“When Modest Mouse were a trio they made inimitable rhythmic songs that were loose and chaotic but also grooved so hard – Jeremiah Green was the force behind that. All-timer drummer responsible for some of the great indie rock of our era. Such sad news RIP,” stated another fan.
Modest Mouse remains scheduled to play Lollapalooza Argentina, Chile, and Brazil in March, according to its website. But in the wake of Green’s sudden passing, the group doesn’t appear to have formally confirmed its plans for these and other shows as well as its lineup.