Howie Pyro, a bassist, DJ, and longtime veteran of the New York punk and underground scenes, died on May 4, 2022, from COVID-19-related pneumonia after suffering from liver disease. A representative confirmed his death; he was 61 years old.
His sister Robin Hartmann, Rory and Leah Hartmann, and former wife Andrea Kusten Matthews survive him. Jesse Malin, Pyro’s longtime friend and D Generation bandmate, announced a benefit concert for Pyro in January 2022, with all proceeds going toward Pyro’s medical and living expenses
He was a member of The Blessed, Freaks, D Generation, and PCP Highway from the beginning. He also played bass in Danzig from 2000 to 2003.
Pyro co-wrote D Gen’s first single, “No Way Out,” and worked with them on a few albums (1994’s “D Generation,” 1996’s “No Lunch,” and 1999’s “Through the Darkness”) before breaking up and reuniting in 2016 for the “Nothing Is Anywhere” album and tour.