Casey Chaos, born Karim George Chmielinski, died on December 21, 2024, at age 59. Cleopatra Records announced his death on Instagram and fellow Los Angeles musician Skum Love confirmed it in a separate statement (per Metal Injection).
Casey served as the frontman of the punk-metal band Amen, which gained recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His death followed a rather quiet period in his life and career with the band.
Casey’s Metal Journey
Photo Credit: Jo Hale – Getty Images
Casey Chaos developed an interest in music during his childhood after discovering punk bands like Black Flag, according to an old BBC interview. At 15, he recorded his first album with a hardcore band. In 1994, he formed Amen, releasing four albums during its run.
Amen performed worldwide, appearing with bands like Slipknot, System of a Down, and Queens of the Stone Age. Despite financial challenges, which Blabbermouth reported in 2005, Casey saw Amen’s achievements, such as being selected by the Sex Pistols for their 25th-anniversary show, as proof of his dedication to making music on his own terms.
Casey also worked on side projects like Scum, a supergroup with members of Emperor, Turbonegro, and Darkthrone. In a 2005 interview with Metal Hammer, he said collaborating with these musicians was a career highlight.
Amen’s Quiet Period Following Break-Up
Photo Credit: Rock Sins
Amen went on hiatus in 2009 but reunited in 2014, performing at Knotfest and recording new songs with Ross Robinson and Slayer’s Dave Lombardo, as reported by Wikipedia. However, no new album saw release.
Casey occasionally teased work on upcoming music, according to fan discussions about Amen’s silence on Reddit, but mostly stayed out of the public eye even after the band’s reunion. A few controversies occasionally kept his name in the headlines, though.
TMZ reported in 2019 that the frontman got arrested in Los Angeles on felony domestic violence charges after police found a woman with a bloody face at his home. His lawyer denied the allegations, saying witnesses would prove his innocence.
Tributes To The Late Singer
Photo Credit: Mick Hutson – Redferns
Most recently, Casey and his band started working on their long-awaited fifth studio album, their Wikipedia page read. But the singer’s death left the project incomplete.
Cleopatra Records CEO Brian Perera paid tribute to Casey on Instagram, writing, “I had the privilege of working with Casey during his unforgettable live performance with ‘Christian Death’ at the American Legion Hall back in 1993… Casey wasn’t just an extraordinary musician—he truly lived and breathed the lifestyle. May he rest in peace alongside Rozz Williams and the many tortured souls we admire and respect.”
Skum Love said via Metal Injection, “I am really thrown back right now. I don’t know what to think. What to say. One of my good friends and in some ways someone who I look up to as a performer just passed away. Casey Chaos, I’m gonna miss you. I love you. Thank you for always being a big support of what I did. You know I was your biggest fan and friend. RIP.”
Amen’s future is currently unknown, though the band seems to be over for now.
