Howie Pyro

{{Infobox musical artist

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| name = Howie Pyro

| birth_name = Howard Kusten

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1960|06|28}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| occupation = Musician and disc jockey

| instrument = Bass

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|05|04|1960|06|28}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| genre = Punk rock, heavy metal

}}

File:Howie Pyro grave - Hollywood Forever Cemetery.jpg, with the epitaph, "Here lies Howie Pyro, the ultimate weirdo and true punk."]]

Howie Pyro (born Howard Kusten, June 28, 1960 – May 4, 2022) was an American bass player. He was a founding member of The Blessed, Freaks,[https://variety.com/2022/music/news/howie-pyro-d-generation-danzig-dead-dies-1235259102/ Howie Pyro, D Generation and Danzig Bassist, Dies at 61] D Generation,{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p141471/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: D Generation|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=April 5, 2010}} and PCP Highway.[http://www.bigwheelmagazine.com/interviews/interview-with-howie-pyro-of-d-generation/ Big Wheel Magazine – Interview with Howie Pyro] Pyro was also the bass player in Danzig from 2000 to 2003.

Biography

Pyro was a DJ at Green Door parties as well as The Blackeyed Soul Club.{{cite web | url=https://crossfadr.com/2012/03/30/la-blackeyed-soul-club-all-60s-all-vinyl-all-the-time/ | title=LA's Blackeyed Soul Club – All 60s, All Vinyl, All the Time | date=March 30, 2012 }} He was the host of Intoxica Radio with Howie Pyro, an internet radio show, where he played "50s and 60s rock and roll, psycho surf, garage, rockabilly, hillbilly horrors, voodoo r & b, insane instrumentals, religious nuts, and teenage hell music."{{cite web |url=http://www.intoxicaradio.com/ |title=Intoxica Radio With Howie Pyro |author= |date=n.d. |publisher=self published |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729124822/http://www.intoxicaradio.com/ |archive-date=July 29, 2019 }} Pyro was also friends with Sid Vicious and was one of the last people to see the former Sex Pistols bassist alive; Pyro was there the night he died from a heroin overdose.{{cite web |url=https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/article/sid-and-nancy-a-punk-rock-murder-mystery |title=Sid and Nancy: A Punk Rock Murder Mystery |author= |date=2021 |publisher=AETN UK |access-date=December 11, 2021}}

In December 2021, it was announced that Pyro was fighting for his life and in recovery following a liver transplant. His longtime friend and D Generation bandmate Jesse Malin announced a benefit concert for Pyro in January 2022, with all funds raised going to Pyro's medical and living expense for the next year as he recovered. Various other benefit shows were held for Pyro as well.{{Cite news|url=https://www.laweekly.com/howie-pyros-friends-show-up/ |title=Howie Pyro's Friends Show Up|website=laweekly.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}}

He died on May 4, 2022, from COVID-19 related pneumonia after suffering from liver disease.{{Cite magazine |last1=Hudak |first1=Joseph |date=May 5, 2022 |title=Howie Pyro, D Generation Co-Founder and Eclectic DJ, Dead at 61 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/howie-pyro-dgeneration-dead-obit-1343029/ |access-date=May 5, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}