Former Sunny Day Real Estate and Posies Bassist Joe Skyward Dead at 57

Former Posies and Sunny Day Real Estate bassist Joe Howard, aka Joe Skyward, has died following a two-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 57. Skyward’s Posies bandmates revealed Skyward passed on Saturday, March 26, in a Facebook post:

Joe Skyward, aka Joe Bass, left us last night. He had been fighting cancer for the 2 years. Positive to the end, he went surrounded by friends and family. We had many great years with Joe and loved him very much. We still do. Rest in peace, rest in space, rest in bass. Here pictured onstage with the Posies in Spain in 2014. We will miss you Joe.

Skyward, originally from Cleveland, first began filling in on bass for the Posies in 1992 before becoming a full-time fixture in the power-pop outfit’s lineup two years later. He contributed to their 1996 album Amazing Disgrace and the 1998 follow-up Success.

Skyward parted ways with the Posies in 1999, joining Sunny Day Real Estate after the release of their 1998 reunion album How It Feels to Be Something On. While he didn’t appear on the album, he toured with the emo leaders and appeared on their 1999 concert album and film Live.

Skyward left SDRE after the brief touring stint but continued to work with frontman Jeremy Enigk on his 2006 and 2007 solo albums World Waits and The Missing Link. Skyward also played with the Walkabouts in 2000 before rejoining the Posies in 2013 for a tour. He left the Posies a second time a year later when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Skyward's death comes less than a year after Posies drummer Darius Minwalla died last May. He was 39.