Rest in Peace Eric Wagner of Trouble and The Skull, 1959-2021
Former Trouble and current The Skull vocalist Eric Wagner has died of pneumonia brought about by Covid-19. His son, Luke Wagner, confirmed on social media. It is impossible to estimate the devastation that Wagner’s loss means to the international underground community at large, but it nearly goes without saying that he was a legend in his own time with a career spanning more than 40 years behind him, as well as someone continuing to do pivotal work in doom metal today.
As part of Trouble, Wagner was essential in defining the trajectory of American doom. Early albums through Metal Blade Records like 1984’s Trouble/Psalm 9, 1985’s The Skull and 1987’s Run to the Light set forth a blueprint that many still follow today, and even as Trouble shifted into more heavy rock and classic rock-minded fare on their 1990 self-titled, their efforts remained no less crucial, with Wagner’s Beatles influence becoming all the more defining on 1992’s Manic Frustration and 1995’s Plastic Green Head, which would be his final album with the band until 2007’s Simple Mind Condition.
Always creative and a songwriter in his own right, Wagner would work across multiple outfits at a time, whether it was the collaboration Lid with Daniel Cavanagh of Anathema or his 2004 participation in Dave Grohl’s Probot project, which helped introduce his voice and style to a broader audience prior to his return to Trouble for what would be his last full-length with the band. In the years following his departure from Trouble, Wagner went on in 2012 to found The Skull alongside guitarist Lothar Keller and fellow Trouble veterans Ron Holzner (bass) and Jeff Olson (drums), first as an homage project and later one with original material.
The Skull’s two full-lengths, For Those Which Are Asleep and The Endless Road Turns Dark, would see release in 2014 and 2016, respectively, through Tee Pee Records. Blackfinger, which would become something of a side-project as The Skull took priority, also released two albums, in 2014’s self-titled and 2017’s When Colors Fade Away, with the acoustic solo collection, Highdeas Vol. 1, arriving in 2015.
It was reported late last week that Wagner, who contracted Covid-19 while on a co-headlining tour with The Skull and fellow landmark outfit The Obsessed, had entered the hospital with Covid pneumonia and that remaining live dates including a slated appearance at Psycho Las Vegas were canceled. He was, again reportedly, unvaccinated.
He was someone whose work was immediately identifiable, and his influence is spread across generations of music from all over the world. It is impossible to hear his voice and not know who’s performing, and on stage, he brought a sense of character and even at times humor to his presence that was inimitable and spoke to his Chicago roots. He may be best remembered as Trouble’s singer, but the arc of his career would find him inspiring others multiple times over, and his passion for what he did was no less inimitable than the voice that was so much his own. If it is impossible to rank the scale of his influence, that is because it continues to spread.
As somebody fortunate enough to interview Wagner on several occasions and to see him live on many more, I offer sincere condolences on behalf of myself and this site for whatever that’s worth to Wagner’s friends, family, bandmates, and any other associates. In my experience, he was a sweet, humble man who understood his place and at least some of what his work meant to others. Of his feelings on Trouble after leaving the band, he told me in 2011, “Those four guys are the only ones who know what it was like to do what we did… I can talk to them and they know exactly what I mean and what it felt like and what we went through.” It was a moment of rare perspective that still resonates a decade later.
He will be dearly missed. It is a tragic loss.
God damnit. RIP Eric. Those seminal bands and albums discovered after Sabbath in my high/school years meant so much to my isolated self at the time, and while they hit differently 20 years later, they still hit all the same. Can’t deny that voice, truly unique. I’m petitioning here and now to ban Mondays. Fuck this shit.
R.I.P.
I used to go see Trouble at the Thirsty Whale back in the day. Saw The Skull the last time they played psycho… Legend.
This news hit hard , I just purchased again the reissues despite having the original cds already , that much I love Trouble
Very nice obituary that captures not only his artistic status and career accomplishments, but also paints a great picture of the man himself. Nicely done.
I am shocked. Great man, with a great voice. I’ve seen him three times; once with Trouble, twice with The Skull. I will truly miss him
so sad to hear the news and thank you for this obituary. he will be missed and remembered. was a great and devoted musician. RIP.
Unfortunately Master Eric Wagner, former lead singer of the doom metal band Trouble passed away last Sunday (August 22nd). Rest in peace with God, Jesus!
Infelizmente o Mestre Eric Wagner, ex-vocalista da banda de doom metal Trouble faleceu no último domingo (22 de agosto). Descanse em paz com Deus, Jesus!
Dude lost a best friend,
This sucks so hard.
Trouble was a huge part of my formative years, well before I ever heard the term Stoner Rock I knew doom, and Trouble was one of my favorites. I grew up about 2 hours north of Chicago and an hour and a half from Milwaukee. In my teens my friends and I drove to many metal shows in both of those cities, at nearly every one was Ron Holzner. We’d say hello and fanboy out a bit and he’d invite us to hang out with him. He introduced us not only to Eric and the rest of the Trouble guys, but really a who’s-who of metal in the mid to late 90s. Ron recognized us after a couple of shows and would say hello and invite us over. It felt so badass to be these little punk kids from Wisconsin hanging out with all of our musical heroes before we were even old enough to drink legally.
That warmth, kindness and acceptance is what I associate with Trouble. They were a soundtrack to my formative years, yes, but they were also some of the most down to earth, coolest people I’ve met.
I feel for Ron, the Trouble family, The Skull family and everyone else left behind in Eric’s wake.
It hit me really hard yesterday when i came home from work… Opened the obelisk and bang i had been punched. I’m nearly fifty, i listen to Metal since a am twelve, but damn Trouble has passed me in those days. Sad. The more relieved i feel that i had the opportunity to see Eric and The Skull twice. In 2017 and 2018. He really was so down to earth. We came to the venue. It had a little yard. Maybe space for 20 to 25 people. And when i came there, he sat there drinking a beer, smoking a joint and had a chat. Just like he wants to see – like anybody else there – The Skull. I will miss this guy so hard. What he (and Trouble) did for METAL in the mid-eighties is so exceptional. Just like he was. Rest In Peace dear friend. That’s what i call you because you treated us like gold. Your voice and music will be forever !!
Hey tough deal. I remember having a beer with Erik with my old mate Spider just before they played a show in London, long ago. What a humble and genuine guy – he’d had a haircut at the time and said he’d cut it all off for charity! That much a remember ?
Great guy, end of an era. See you on the other side man.
Thanks for keeping this pinned JJ, it really is that important a moment in time. “It is impossible to hear his voice and not know who’s performing” – that says it all. Much love to Eric’s family and friends.