Trevor Strnad, Singer for the Black Dahlia Murder, Dies at 41

Trevor Strnad, lead singer and founding member of Michigan death metal band the Black Dahlia Murder, has died. His bandmates revealed the news on their official Instagram page earlier today (May 11). “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Trevor Scott Strnad. Beloved son, brother, and Shepard of good times, he was loved by all that met him,” the group wrote in their statement.

The band added that Strnad was “a walking encyclopedia of all things music. He was a hugger, a writer, and truly one of the world’s greatest entertainers. His lyrics provided the world with stories and spells and horror and whimsy. It was his life to be your show.” At the end of their post, they left the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trevor Strnad was 41 years old.

Strnad formed the Black Dahlia murder in Waterford, Michigan in 2001. The lineup has shifted many times throughout the years, with Strnad and guitarist Brian Eschbach acting as the last remaining original members prior to Strnad’s death. The group takes its name from the grisly (and unsolved) 1947 murder of 22-year-old actress Elizabeth Smart, which captivated and terrified the Los Angeles public. 

The Black Dahlia Murder released their first LP Unhallowed in 2003 on Metal Blade Records, which has remained their label home to this day. They issued eight more full-lengths in the subsequent years, most recently 2019’s Verminous. Strnad saw the Black Dahlia Murder as a constantly evolving entity, and referred to the group’s last album as “the biggest evolutionary leap we’ve ever taken.”

He added: “It’s a very colorful, moody, and charismatic album that experiments with new sounds and ideas without losing the cutthroat Black Dahlia edge. There is a lot of minutiae to digest. Plenty of delicious little Easter eggs woven into the fabric of each song. Each one is a living, breathing entity that will stand on its own as some of the best music this band has ever created… We want an album to feel like a wild ride. A journey from beginning to end that has peaks and valleys.” The Black Dahlia Murder were scheduled to tour behind Verminous this coming August.

In 2020, Strnad sang on the title track for Undeath’s debut album Lesions of a Different Kind.