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Caroline Fisher | Posted on October 04, 2019
Hearts are broken over the loss of legendary punk icon Kim Shattuck
Battle with ALS
Kim Shattuck, front-woman of the southern California punk rock band The Muffs has passed away at the age of 56. The singer and bassist reportedly passed of ALS after battling the illness for two years. Her husband Kevin Sutherland shared a heartfelt post on Instagram about the tremendous loss, saying “I am the man I am today because of her. She will live with all of us through her music, our shared memories and in her fierce creative spirit. I love you always my Kimmy. Thank you for sharing your life with me.” Previous to her passing Shattuck did not reveal her personal battle with ALS, only the fact that the illness runs in her family; however, proceeds from her recent EP with The Coolies did benefit the ALS Association Golden West Chapter.
Doing What She Loves
She tragically passed away only weeks before the release of her new record with The Muffs, No Holiday, which is set to come out October 18th. Fellow bandmates Roy McDonald and Ronnie Barnett posted on facebook “While battling ALS, Kim produced our last album, overseeing every part of the record from tracking to artwork. She was our best friend and playing her songs was an honor.”
Well-versed
Shattuck, known mostly for her work in her band The Muffs had also collaborated with several artists in the punk scene like NOFX and The Dollyrots, and even did a brief stint as the bassist for The Pixies. Her fierce and unapologetic nature (as well as raw talent) earned her the respect she deserves in the scene and allowed her to work her way to the top. Before forming The Muffs in 1991 and releasing seven albums with them (including upcoming album No Holiday), Shattuck played bass in the all-female garage punk band The Pandoras from 1985 to 1990.
An Inspiration
Shattuck’s work in her various projects made her an inspiration to her fans and fellow musicians. The female-fronted Chicago band Veruca Salt shared a post on Instagram expressing their love for her, stating that they’re “Heartbroken about Kim. One of the all time greats. How could anyone be such a brilliant pop songwriter, singer, screamer, and such a total punk-rock bada**, and be so insanely cute at the same time? No one funnier or cooler. We love you, Kim”. Letters to Cleo’s Kay Hanley shared on Twitter: “Kim Shattuck, one of my all time greatest inspirations in music and in real life. I cannot believe that she’s gone. Love to her family and bandmates on this unthinkably sad day. Godspeed Kim, long live @TheMuffs”. Kim will inevitably be missed, but the impact she had on so many will never be forgotten.
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