Saliva’s founding guitarist Wayne Swinny has passed away. He was reportedly 59 years old. The news of Swinny’s passing comes one day after he was admitted to an intensive care unit following a brain hemorrhage.

Wayne Swinny passes away

Saliva singer Bobby Amaru has released the following statement regarding his bandmate’s death:

“I’m not even sure what to think or how to feel right now. My heart aches for Wayne’s family, his friends, and anyone who had the joy of being around him. My heart aches for his daughter Nikki. He loved that little girl so much. He was a guitar hero onstage with all the rock ‘n’ roll swag that most guitar players dream of. Offstage he was a proud father, an Ancient Aliens expert, and an incredible human who had zero enemies! He would go out of his way to make sure you had a good time.

“I’m grateful that I got to share almost 12 years of my life with Wayne on the stage and most importantly off the stage. He was the older brother I never had. I learned so much from him and we had a f***ing blast together! I will cherish it all for the rest of my life!

“God Bless you, Wayne. I know we’ll meet again!!”

Saliva was on the road in the U.S. as part of the “Spring Mayhem” tour with Through Fire and Any Given Sin and had played in Nashville Monday night (March 20).