Jason Thirsk

Jason Thirsk
Thirsk on stage with Pennywise in the mid-1990s
Background information
Birth name	Jason Matthew Thirsk
Born	(1967-12-25)December 25, 1967
Origin	Hermosa Beach, California
Died
Genres	Punk rock, Melodic hardcore, Skate punk, Hardcore punk
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Bass, Vocals
Years active	1986–1996
Labels	Theologian Records, Epitaph Records
Associated acts	Pennywise Humble Gods

Jason Matthew Thirsk (December 25, 1967 – July 29, 1996) was the former bass player of the California punk rock band Pennywise who grew up in Hermosa Beach, California.

Pennywise was formed in 1988 by Thirsk along singer Jim Lindberg, guitarist Fletcher Dragge, drummer Byron McMackin. Thirsk who had been in rehabilitation for alcoholism and suffered from depression, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 28. The band decided to continue making music after Thirsk's death, and brought in bass guitarist Randy Bradbury from One Hit Wonder. The band then set about writing an album of new material which was made up of mostly anti-suicide messages. One of Pennywise's most popular songs, "Bro Hymn", was originally written by Thirsk as a tribute to three of his friends, Tim Colvin, Carlos Canton who died in a car accident, and Tom Nichols who drowned at Hermosa Beach Pier in 1988. The band re-recorded the song after his death as a tribute to their fallen bandmate, replacing the line "Canton, Colvin, Nichols, this one's for you" with "Jason Matthew Thirsk, this one's for you", and renaming the track "Bro Hymn Tribute". It appears as the final track on Full Circle released in 1997, and also live on Live @ the Key Club, released in 2000. Justin Thirsk, Jason's brother and drummer from 98 Mute, appears on the re-recording both on drums and vocals.

Thirsk's Pennywise discography

• A Word From the Wise (1989, EP)
• Wildcard (1989, EP)
• Pennywise (1991)
• A Word from the Wise/Wildcard (1992, compilation of the EPs)
• Unknown Road (1993)
• About Time (1995)
• Yesterdays (2014) *Contains previously unrecorded compositions by Thirsk.

and see also

• Full Circle (1997, dedicated to him, also includes his own lyrics)
• No Heroes (1996) Humble Gods (This was the last official recording to ever feature Jason Thirsk).