Sarah Kirsch

December 6, 2012 10:01 AM

"Please help a dear friend, Sarah Kirsch, an important figure and driving force in the ’90s Bay Area punk scene and beyond. She continues to be an important part of our community, our culture, our music scene, and many of our lives. Even if you don’t recognize this name, you probably know Sarah. She has been a huge part of the punk/radical community for decades as Mike Kirsch (Fuel,Sawhorse, Pinhead Gunpowder, John Henry West,Torches To Rome, Bread And Circuits, Please Inform The Captain This Is A Hijack, Baader Brains, Mothercountry Motherfuckers, etc.). She not too long ago came out as a proud trans-woman, and almost immediately was confronted with these terrible health problems." Sarah Kirsch has died of Fanconi Anemia.

A primer to her bands and scope of influence:

Fuel

Sawhorse

Navio Forge

Pinhead Gunpowder

John Henry West

Torches To Rome

Baader Brains

posted by josher71 (21 comments total)

That's too bad. Mike was a great in Fuel and Pinhead Gunpowder. I had no idea he transitioned, and I'm sorry to hear she has died.
posted by OmieWise at 10:09 AM on December 6, 2012

Wow. So sad. That was my punk rock youth there, growing up in the Bay Area.
posted by ph00dz at 10:19 AM on December 6, 2012

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posted by reedbird_hill at 10:34 AM on December 6, 2012

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posted by lupus_yonderboy at 10:45 AM on December 6, 2012

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posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:53 AM on December 6, 2012

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posted by marienbad at 11:20 AM on December 6, 2012

Such a monumental figure in punk over the last 20 years. This is really sad.

My favorite: Karma Collection Day
posted by MetalFingerz at 11:24 AM on December 6, 2012

Sad news. I wish she had had more time, much more time. Fanconi's Anemia sounds like a tough disease.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:28 AM on December 6, 2012

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posted by Theta States at 11:48 AM on December 6, 2012

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posted by Johannes Silentio at 11:50 AM on December 6, 2012

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posted by Halloween Jack at 11:52 AM on December 6, 2012

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posted by Joey Michaels at 12:11 PM on December 6, 2012

Well this is a punch in the gut. I met Sarah a couple of times and she was always totally cool.

Anybody familiar with my username knows how much I love Dillinger Four, but Pinhead Gunpowder has the best song on their split.

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posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 12:14 PM on December 6, 2012

. fuck
posted by couchdive at 12:50 PM on December 6, 2012

More information.
posted by josher71 at 1:33 PM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

!
posted by Madamina at 3:00 PM on December 6, 2012

I first heard Pinhead Gunpowder on the Dillinger Four split Doublewhiskeycokenoice mentions above. Never had the chance to see them live.

It sucks to see someone with so much to say and such courage to say it taken from us.

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posted by BitterOldPunk at 3:23 PM on December 6, 2012

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posted by DrMew at 4:53 PM on December 6, 2012

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posted by bibliogrrl at 5:08 PM on December 6, 2012

I'll take any excuse to remind the world of the Skinflutes, though I really wish it wasn't under these circumstances.

Her passing is a pretty significant loss to the Bay Area punk community. I'm bummed.
posted by kendrak at 6:53 PM on December 6, 2012

A Favourite Fuel Moment: "Not Up For Sale"
posted by jeffen at 5:20 AM on December 7, 2012