Headline News
Salem's Wych Singer Killed In Motorcycle Accident
Ron Johnson, of the metal band Salem’s Wych died at 11:22 a.m. on April 23, 2007 in Lima, Ohio, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
Ron was survived by two children, his life companion Cindy Ritchie, a mother, father and a sister.
Salem’s Wych was one of the original 80’s bands along with Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Helstar to usher in a style of metal that went on to later be known as Thrash Metal.
What's Next?
- Previous Article:
Dark Tranquillity Post Another New Track Online - Next Article:
Four More Bands Announcced For Wacken Open Air
49 Comments on "Salem's Wych Singer Killed In Motorcycle Accident"
Former Contributor
4. writes:
People die every day antihippy, I could understand you caring if you actually knew this band but otherwise...
Now Playing: Confessor - "Uncontrolled" (<;---- I want to thank the guy who alerted me to this incredible band in a post here, can't remember who it was but you're awesome.)
Former Contributor
6. writes:
Confessor - "Alone"
"seems like nothings clear to me
I cant find my mind to pacify
countless millions dying alone
countless millions dying
alone with no signs of sadness, alone
nobody sees the pain
countless millions cry
attempting mass suicide
dying for help I hear their screams
to end their frantic dream
seems like nothings clear to me"
Jeez I'm bored at the moment, Now Playing: Bethlehem - "Second Coming"
Member
8. writes:
Damn dude. April does suck balls. so many people have disbanned and died this year. Especially in April. we got 3 days left of negativity it seems. oh well. i was into this band for about a year, then thrash metal sort of got old. but i'd still listen to them. as for crucifide for life, yes, one of the great unknown. and cynic, you should be a little more sympathetic for everyone who thinks this totaly sucks. R.I.P Ronnie. You'll be missed.
9. writes:
Come on guys, all the bands that have disbanned are bands that SHOULD HAVE BEEN disbanded, 18 visions, and some other emo bands am i correct?
So you bunch of emo p***ies stop whining, becuase April 2007 has signal the beginning of the end of the sh**ty faggy emo movement, and i don't know who this guy is, just RIP. But please people like5 emo bands have already been disbanded so that good sh**. For f*** sakes.
10. writes:
This is sad. Many of you will never know of the great early Thrash bands like Salem's Wych that should jhave been every bit as big as your Metallicas and Slayers but just got screwed over by managers and labelks and lawyers. This is a horrible loss for metal music. Maybe before you bash these bands that were the 80's metal pioneeers and in my opinion the best there were for metal and thrash you should listen to them and see what it was really all about. (I bet you will find some great music you never even knew of. R.I.P. Ron!
Former Contributor
13. writes:
That's exactly my point though, what's the point of showing such mauldin facades, such hollow sympathy when it's so meaningless. Those Confessor lyrics seem to fit the situation well. That's why early death metal was such a potent new force, and something more than just guts 'n gore - It took an unafraid, unassuming view on death...
Death - "Open Casket"
"Life will never be the same
Death can never be explained
It's their time to go beyond
Empty feeling when they're gone"
Now Playing: Rigor Mortis - "Shroud of Gloom"
Former Contributor
Member
18. writes:
All we can really hope for the future, is that the next band to break up or experience death, (not that I'm ok with someone dying), will be a really crappy one. We all write in these boxes of how we feel grief for Ron. But like metal4ever said, many people will never know how great of a musician Ron actually was. But I'm sure all of our comments show one thing, that we all love metal music.
Writer, Reviewer
20. writes:
hahah, cynic's got a secret admirer :P
Death WOULD always be horrible, IF the global population weren't so ridiculously huge.
However, death of gifted individuals who in some way contributed to the general population remains always horrible. This death, then, is tragic. Especially considering how much this band contributed to the metal scene - early thrash started a huge movement. AND it's one of my favourite genres :P
Now Playing: At The Gates - "Slaughter of the Soul"
Member
Member
24. writes:
I just have one question, why is it that when I go into a “death” thread and post something almost exactly like Cynic regarding all the “hollow sympathy” posts, the peanut gallery piles on me but Cynic gets praise? I could have sworn that I posted something very similar to what Cynic posted in #6 and #13 in numerous death threads and got bashed mercilessly by people like Red Chord and LiquidMetal77. Where are they now? Whats the difference in what I posted and what Cynic posted? Is it the language I use? Was it a little bit harsh? I know, it must be a conspiracy. Speaking of….
Now Playing: King Diamond - Sleepless Nights
And just for the record, I agree with Cynic, these threads are littered with false sentiment about people we have never met just so someone can put their name out there.
25. writes:
Hey, your mom, I'm gonna back you on this one.
What in the hell are you thinking, cynic? What the hell do you mean by "maudlin facade"? Did you just get on the site at the pc at the library? What's the difference between people that come on here and post fake hangout stories to look cool, and people that use big words and cite Death lyrics to make it look like they understand the situation above all? You state that someone doesn't have the need to care, just because they don't know the band, when that doesn't really matter. They posted their condolences and you pretty much told them to stop because they didn't know who the band was. That seems like the most out of line thing you can post on a death thread, asswipe. Flaming people on message boards is one thing, but flaming someone for mourning is just low.
I never praised cynic, for the most maudlin of the facades is his.
The "peanut gallery" has arrived.
Member
Former Contributor
28. writes:
What do I mean by maudlin facade? Well maudlin facade really, a "tearfully or weakly emotional" "superficial appearance or illusion of something". As I said in a previous post I was trying to explain something quite difficult to verbalise so I pick my words carefully. I don't claim to understand death, but I can one thing that I've recently begun to understand is the pointlessness of when the truth of death is hidden behind meaningless words.
"They posted their condolences and you pretty much told them to stop because they didn't know who the band was. That seems like the most out of line thing you can post on a death thread, asswipe. " - Well it was more of a question to antihippy, but with ellipsis instead of ?. As the Confessor lyrics go "Countless millions dying, alone" - Where are their condolences?
And if you consider "People die every day antihippy, I could understand you caring if you actually knew this band but otherwise..." to be flaming I seriously advise you to avert your gaze from the infantile thoughts that are sometimes spewed here. BTW, not sure Your Mum - I'll go along with the conspiracy theory though.
Now Playing: Disembowelment - "Burial at Ornans"
Member
29. writes:
Cynic, did you forget to take your pills again? Man, you have some major f'n problems. You gotta understand when you die, there's either something or nothing. Obviously their's something. God is the coolest so He's the right guy. That's it. Stop using big words and trying to sound intellegent. YOUR NOT.
Former Contributor
31. writes:
Uhh.... I didn't even mention anything about an afterlife or God - Why are people so hostile around here? I mean, I make a few non-abrasive posts and blam, apparently I'm an 'asswipe' with 'major f'n problems'.
"You gotta understand when you die, there's either something or nothing. Obviously their's something." What a brilliant hypothesis! Why didn't I see that!? etc...I really don't want to discuss theology with you.
"Stop using big words and trying to sound intellegent. YOUR NOT." - Thanks for that analysis. I used words that are in my vocabulary, complex ideas sometimes require complex words.
Member
Member
Member
Member
41. writes:
either post 40, 41, 42, and 44 are different ppl using the same comp, or they are the same person. and Your mom, you talked trash about everyone including ther person who died and the people who were in grief. there is no way you said anything similar to what cynic wrote.
Member
43. writes:
I'm an old HEAD, been rockin a long time, The death of RONNIE JOHNSON is great loss to music in general, for those of you who didnt know his music, thats your loss, R I P brother, we'll ride together across the sky. Show some respect a55holes this man is the reason metal is what it is today. I know i was there
44. writes:
If everyone has so much access to libraries try looking this band up, give them some consideration and listen to them. Some of the greatest contributions to metal music came after the bands have all since been gone.So in closing look at the history of metal music most of the bands have the sound that isnt commercialized. Who are the great pioneers? So everybody chill,do your thing,the great thing is you have the right to your own opinion. PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member
Member
Member
To minimize comment spam/abuse, you cannot post comments on articles over a month old.
1. Murderface writes:
That just f***ing sucks. RIP Ronnie! Crucified for Life, one of the great unsung Metal albums!!!