R.I.P. Rick Froberg of Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes

He was 55 and died of natural causes

Photo: Steve Louie

BY Alex HudsonPublished Jul 2, 2023

Rick Froberg of the bands Drive Like Jehu and Hot Snakes has died. He was 55.

His passing was confirmed by friend and collaborator John Reis, who wrote on Instagram that Froberg had "passed away suddenly last night from natural causes."

Reis wrote, "His art made life better. The only thing he loved more than art and rock n roll was his friends. He will forever be remembered for his creativity, vision and his ability to bring beauty into this world. I love you, Rick. I will miss you for the rest of my life."
 

Froberg was best known for his work fronting the influential San Diego post-hardcore bands Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes and Pitchfork. Hot Snakes reunited in recent years; their album Jericho Sirens came out in 2018, and Froberg announced in June that the follow-up was "very near done." In the 2000s and 2010s, he also fronted Obits.

Froberg was also a visual artist and designer. He created artwork for all of his bands, plus Reis's band Rocket from the Crypt.

Listen to a podcast about the history of Drive Like Jehu by Exclaim!'s own Vish Khanna, including an interview with Froberg, here.

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