Former Broken Hope Frontman Takes Own Life

Posted on Jan 22nd 2010 12:30PM by Chris Harris Comments
Joe PtacekOn Jan. 20, Joe Ptacek, former vocalist for 1990s death metallers Broken Hope, died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 37, and news of his passing has shocked the Illinois metal community.

The erstwhile band's former guitarist, Jeremy Wagner, broke the news to fans online, saying in a statement that it was "with profound sadness and shock that [I report that] my friend and former bandmate -- Joe Ptacek -- has died. Joe was my high-school friend who formed a death-metal band with me called Broken Hope. We always dreamed of putting out albums and touring the world. After graduating, we achieved a lot of those dreams and released five albums, performed worldwide, appeared in countless international magazines and did a video for MTV. We were on Metal Blade Records and met all of our heroes and performed everywhere."

Wagner says he hadn't heard much from Ptacek since 2000, right around the same time the band dissolved. The band's last LP came in 1999, in the form of 'Grotesque Blessings.' In recent months, though, the two had reconnected, and "became friends again. I just chatted with him after the New Year as he and I had found a drummer and a rehearsal spot where we were to begin working to bring back a new, resurrected form of Broken Hope."

In recent weeks, Ptacek seemed "positive, healthy and had a mature and humble attitude that made me happy to see." Nothing seemed to be amiss. "I'm thankful to have known him in my lifetime and to have traveled many a mile and share many a stage with such an original character," Wagner writes. "Moreover, I'm thankful to have hugged him and to have made him smile the last time we were together. Why he chose to take his life, I'll never even begin to fathom, but I pray he's in a better place."

Broken Hope's 'Into the Necrosphere' Video
Filed under: News

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22 Comments

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Titangirl

I don't blame him for taking his life. He just gave up his life... He should have look at other optional if he wasn't good in metal rock. He should have done something else in the music world. Oh well... a quitter he is. Loser.

January 22 2010 at 6:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gary

This is a sad event, without question. But NEVER say that suicide means that their pain is over ... it probably means they won't go to Heaven, or enjoy a happy spiritual life in the world hereafter.

January 22 2010 at 6:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tlphfs

this is horrible news, this is one of my favorite bands, he is a brutal vocalist, I'm am truly depressed.

January 22 2010 at 6:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wayne Obremski

Mourn not the dead - the living suffer - R.I.P.

January 22 2010 at 5:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nmizzery816

Not to sound insensitive,but if I sounded like that,Id ask someone else to shoot me.
I wonder what Bevis and Butthead woulda said about that video.
I am human so - God bless his family.

January 22 2010 at 5:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
numb1

I to hope someday to die like a rock star

January 22 2010 at 4:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to numb1's comment
DR BADASS

YOU WANNA DIE LIKE A ROCK STAR??? YOU GOTTA BE A ROCK STAR BEFORE YOU DIE LIKE ONE YA DUMBASS..... RIP MY METAL BROTHER

January 22 2010 at 5:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Janet

Thats never good. Who was he?

January 22 2010 at 4:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steve-a-rino

"Shocked the Illinois metal community?" Who gives a shit? These people live to shock everyone else with their look, their music and their philosophy. Guess what? The real world intrudes on EVERYONE, and suicide is all too common, even outside the "metal community."
Wake up and look outside your little world. The universe is bigger than you thought!

January 22 2010 at 4:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Steve-a-rino's comment
spikeiswho

Most people in the true heavy metal community do not aim to shock or attract any attention.We actually like this music,we actually like having long hair.As for our philosphy,we dont have one we're people who have a common interest in a style of music you and others like you will never understand.The fact that Joe Ptacek's suicide shocked the community is because he was a very nice guy and the last person you'd think would do this.

January 22 2010 at 5:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pramidptr

Sorry to hear this sad news...RIP

January 22 2010 at 4:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
T.J.

THAT WAS CLEARLY A PLAGURIZED VERSION OF BOB SEGERS "TURN THE PAGE" BUT SERIOUSLY ITS SAD WHEN SOMEONE SEES NO OTHER WAY OUT BUT THE MOST SELFISH WAY. I FEEL SORRY FOR HIS EXTENDED FAMILY WHO NOW MUST SUFFER WHAT HE SO SELFISHLY PUT UPON THEM. IF ANYONE DISAGREES WITH MY VIEW DURING THIS FAMILIES TIME OF GRIEF, I RESPECTIVELY DISAGREE. IF SOMEONE CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE READS MY WORDS AND REALIZES THE ME, ME, ME ATTITUDE SUICIDE ENGENDERS PERHAPS JUST PERHAPS THEY WILL THINK TWICE ABOUT PUTTING THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THROUGH THIS PAIN AND SEEK HELP INSTEAD.

January 22 2010 at 3:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to T.J.'s comment

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