Matt Zaun (Salamander, Skye Klad, Di Dollari, Blitzen, et al) RIP
 

I am so heartbroken right now...
Our good friend Matt Zaun unexpectedly left us in his sleep this weekend.
He was with friends in Eau Claire, having just seen the Black Eyed Snakes.
No excessive debauchery, no nihilistic behavior, simply going to sleep and not waking up.
It is currently just a painful mystery; hopefully answers will come to us in the weeks to come.
He was my bandmate in more than one project, he was my good friend, and he was the definition of True Friendship.
He was one of the best designers I have ever known, and one of the finest percussionists I have ever had the pleasure to hear, watch or collaborate with.
The sadness of his death is impossible to process.
You were loved by many, my friend.
Matt played drums in Salamander, Skye Klad, Blitzen, Di Dollari and several other bands.
I trusted him implicitly with design work for any show or recording I was involved in.

Matt's design skills and music can be sampled here, though just a tiny sliver of his massive body of work is on display:

This is the most recent picture I have of him, when he played drums for Suishou No Fune last month.

Sorry to hear that, Savage Clone.

Sorry to hear your news, SC. I feel for you, I really do.

oh shit man.
I feel so sorry for you. Don't know what to say.....

R.I.P.

very sad news indeed and my condolances.

Condolences to his family and all the people who loved him and he loved.
Very sad news SC...

Dude... so sorry for you. I can only imagine...

I'm so sorry Clone. How terrible. To have no warning whatsoever...many of us probably know how that feels, but I wouldn't want to equate your loss with anyone elses. Such a good friend of yours deserves to be remembered as an individual.

I looked at that small sample of his design work; what great taste. I can already think of a few people I know who would love to see his art. It's a shame it has stopped. From what you've shared about him, I would hope that I can learn something from his dedication to his various projects. Truly an inspiration (especially at a time when I am struggling with many different projects I have to complete; this really puts it into perspective. Best not to whine about the amount of work, and to instead just be thankful that I have the opportunity, period).

I am so sorry to hear that Savage. My condolonces to you, and his family as well.

condolences, man. losing a friend like that is not easy, be strong.

I'm very sorry to hear that. My condolences.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone.
It's been a great source of comfort to see your words here.

hey savage- i didnt realize you were friendly with matt. i just had come across his portfolio online recently and loved his stuff. booked marked it for future reference. such a loss! send my best to his family and friends ...

My condolences Mr Clone. Take care in these difficult times.
He was a very good designer. Love his work.

i really feel for you man.
one of my best friends just died 2 weeks ago in a car crash...

I'm so sorry to hear that, it must be awful for his family and friends. I love his work and the world will miss him greatly. Horrible news.

Such a sudden loss... my sincere condolences to you.

Obviously very talented and much too young; may he be remembered by his work and by what he meant to others. As they say "those who live in the hearts of others never die". Take care in these difficult times.

man...

loss for words

Sorry to hear about your friend, man.

Turns out it was a heart attack after all. We were initially told his heart checked out OK, but it turns out there was a major artery that was constricted. It's unfortunate that the first symptom of his heart trouble was death, but at least we know what happened now. I miss him a lot.

Here is some footage of Matt playing his minimal "standup" kit in Blitzen, a short-lived but great band he played in with my old bandmate Jason (leader of Skye Klad) and Jason's wife Chrissy. I think they could have been pretty popular if Jason hadn't abrubtly disbanded the group to pursue more "art" music. This show was at the first Heliotrope festival in 2004.

"Blitzen":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU0_06STkMw

"John The Revelator":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsMw-k6DkpA

"Round and Round":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwcPA-18Zes

"Joan Of Arc":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlaxGEqTp1w

Fantastic stuff! Thanks a lot for sharing and may his talent live forever.

I haven't really been around much, and when I am, I'm rarely in this sub-forum, so I didn't see this.

I wish I had something deep and profound to say instead of "I'm sorry", but that's all I've got.

I'm sorry.

That's pretty cool!

Think of the good times.
Strength.