Three Exploding Hearts Killed : Rolling Stone

Three members of Portland, Oregon-based power punk band Exploding Hearts died early Sunday morning when their van flipped over on Interstate 5 near Eugene. Adam "Baby" Cox, 23, Matthew "Matt Lock" Fitzgerald, 20, and Jeremy "Kid Killer" Gage, 21, died after being ejected from the van as it rolled, authorities said.

A fourth band member, guitarist Terry Six, 21, and the Exploding Hearts' manager, thirty-five-year-old Rachelle Ramos, suffered minor injuries, and were treated and released from the hospital. Ramos was the only one of the five wearing a seat belt.

The band had played a Thursday night show at the San Francisco club Bottom of the Hill and was headed home when the accident happened. Authorities speculate that Fitzgerald, who owned the van and was driving, was overly tired and overcorrected after going off the road.

The Exploding Hearts released their highly-rated Big Star-meets-Ramones debut, Guitar Romantic, in March. Cox sang and played guitar, Fitzgerald played bass and Gage, who earlier this month announced he planned to leave the band, played drums.

AUGUSTIN SEDGEWICK
(July 21, 2003)