Dave Shapiro, the co-founder of a music agency whose roster includes the Canadian bands Sum 41 and Silverstein, was among the victims of a plane crash in California early Thursday morning.
Sound Talent Group (STG) confirmed that Shapiro, 42, was one of three of its employees who were killed when a private plane crashed into a San Diego neighbourhood.
“We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends,” read a statement released by STG on Thursday afternoon. “Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy.”
Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley told the Associated Press that Shapiro helped build the rock band back up during a “low point” in their career.
“His opinion mattered so much to me,” Whibley said. “He was that guy I would go to for advice on things.”
During their last conversation, Shapiro had flown out in his new plane to see the pop-punk band’s induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in March.
Shapiro is listed as the owner of the plane and has a pilot’s licence, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency did not share the names of the other victims.
STG was founded in 2018 by Shapiro, a veteran talent agent, alongside Tim Borror and Matt Anderson. The agency’s roster boasts over 400 artists across a variety of genres. In addition to Sum 41, STG also represents Vanessa Carlton, Opeth, Lamb of God, Built to Spill and others.
“We lost one of the best people ever,” Shane Told, vocalist for the Ontario post-hardcore band Silverstein wrote in an Instagram story. “I watched Dave go from drummer and merch guy to entrepreneur and one of the most important people in the industry. But along the way he was first and foremost a friend.”
Shapiro grew up in upstate New York in the “straightedge hard-core” scene, a subculture that promotes not using drugs and alcohol in reaction to mainstream punk.
In addition to his love for music, Shapiro was also an avid pilot with more than a decade of flying experience, Billboard reports. He owned a flight school called Velocity Aviation and a record label, Velocity Records.
“Dave was fearless in life, and tireless in his work, and the kind of friend you would want on your speed dial,” the band Hanson shared in a post on X. “Our hearts go out to Dave’s family and the team at Sound Talent Group.”
A second victim of the crash was Daniel Williams, 39, a former drummer for the American metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. The band confirmed the news with an Instagram post on Thursday, with the caption: “We owe you everything. Love you forever.”
Williams was a founding member of the band, which formed in 2005. He left the band in 2016, and began working for the American tech company GoPro. Just one week before his death, he accepted a software engineering role at Apple.
Prior to the crash, Williams posted a photo from the cockpit of Shapiro’s plane, writing ” … I’m the (co) pilot) now.”
“My heart is shattered in pieces,” Jeremy DePoyster, singer and guitarist for The Devil Wears Prada wrote in an Instagram story. “You inspired me every day. You gave me everything I have in my life. You mentored me through the toughest moments and you showed up in the most random places unannounced because you loved the surprise.”
“Huge your friends and tell them you love them,” he added.
Artists and friends pay tribute to the Shapiro and Williams
With files from the Associated Press.
