Jason Thirsk
Jason Matthew Thirsk (December 25, 1967 – July 29, 1996) was an American musician who was the bass player of the California punk rock band Pennywise from 1988 through his death in 1996. He grew up in Hermosa Beach, California. Pennywise was formed in 1988 by Thirsk along with singer Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fletcher Dragge, and drummer Byron McMackin.
Also recorded as Jason Matthew Thirsk
Jason Thirsk
- Name
- Jason Thirsk
- Birth Name
- Jason Matthew Thirsk
- Born
- 25 December 1967
- Died
- 29 July 1996
- Occupation
- Musician
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- punk rock
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Jason Matthew Thirsk (December 25, 1967 – July 29, 1996) was an American musician who was the bass player of the California punk rock band Pennywise from 1988 through his death in 1996. He grew up in Hermosa Beach, California. Pennywise was formed in 1988 by Thirsk along with singer Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fletcher Dragge, and drummer Byron McMackin.
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Jason Thirsk (1967–1996) was a bassist and musician, of American nationality. The bassist was born in Hermosa Beach. The work spans punk rock.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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wikidata · Q1386876 · wikipedia · Jason Thirsk
In this article
Biography
Biography
Thirsk had been in rehabilitation for alcoholism and suffered from depression.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jason Thirsk • Birth Name — Jason Matthew Thirsk • Born — 25 December 1967 • Died — 29 July 1996 • Origin — Hermosa Beach, California, U.S. • Instrument — Vocals, bass • Genre — * Punk rock • melodic hardcore • skate punk • hardcore punk • Occupation — Musician • Years Active — 1986–1996 • Past Member Of — Pennywise
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1996
Jason Thirsk died.
Death and legacy
At the age of 28, he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His girlfriend discovered his body approximately a day after his death. The band decided to continue making music after Thirsk's death, first by dedicating their performances to him at Warped Tour 1996. They later brought in bass guitarist Randy Bradbury from One Hit Wonder. The band then set about writing an album of new material which was made up of mostly anti-suicide messages. One of Pennywise's most popular songs, "Bro Hymn", was originally written by Thirsk as a tribute to three of his friends: Tim Colvin, Carlos Canton, who died in a motorcycle accident, and Tom Nichols, who drowned at Hermosa Beach Pier in 1988. The band re-recorded the song after his death as a tribute to their fallen bandmate, replacing the line "Canton, Colvin, Nichols, this one's for you" with "Jason Matthew Thirsk, this one's for you", and renaming the track "Bro Hymn Tribute". It appears as the final track on the 1997 album Full Circle and a live version can also be found on Live @ the Key Club, released in 2000. Justin Thirsk, Jason's brother and drummer from 98 Mute, appears on the re-recording, both on drums and vocals.
Thirsk's Pennywise discography
• A Word From the Wise (1989, EP) • Wildcard (1989, EP) • Pennywise (1991) • A Word from the Wise/Wildcard (1992, compilation of the EPs) • Unknown Road (1993) • About Time (1995) • Yesterdays (2014) *Contains previously unrecorded compositions by Thirsk. and see also • No Heroes (1996) Humble Gods (This was the last official recording to ever feature Jason Thirsk). • Full Circle (1997, dedicated to him, also includes his own lyrics)
Literature
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Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.McElhiney, Brian. Pennywise brings punk to Midtown. The Bulletin. March 8, 2018.
- 2.MTV News Staff. Former Pennywise Bassist Jason Thirsk Dead. MTV News. August 2, 1996.
- 3.Pennywise ex-bassist found dead. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 18. August 2, 1996.
- 4.Amabile, Michelle. Fans, bands find Ashbury Park awesome. Asbury Park Press. 31. August 6, 1996.
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