Bo Lueders, guitarist of Harm’s Way and co-host of the HardLore podcast, has died. The announcement of his passing was posted earlier today (April 2) on social media, shared by the band and the podcast.
“It is with heavy, broken hearts that we share that our beloved Bo Lueders has passed away,” the statement reads. “He will be remembered for his unwavering empathy and compassion for his friends & family and his magnetic, inimitable presence on & off the stage. We kindly ask for grace and privacy as we navigate this extremely difficult time.”
Lueders co-founded Harm’s Way in 2006, becoming vital to the band’s evolution. They transitioned from tough, underground hardcore to industrial, metallic heaviness throughout five studio albums, their most recent being 2023’s Common Suffering. Alongside Colin Young of Twitching Tongues and God’s Hate, he launched the HardLore podcast in 2022, emerging just as hardcore experienced a major resurgence.
“As guitar music fluctuates in popularity, anything that gets younger people that aren’t the stereotypical white males into heavier music can only mean good things for the music as a whole. I genuinely mean that,” he said to AP that same year, reflecting on the state of the genre.
Their goal was deceptively simple: “sharing stories from the touring lives of musicians.” Throughout dozens of episodes, they connected with a broad range of prominent musicians, including AFI’s Davey Havok, Coheed and Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez, and Touché Amoré’s Jeremy Bolm.
Lueders also left AP with advice that speaks to the strength of his character: “There’s no reason to be a dick to anyone ever, whether that’s at the venue, the gas station, the hotel — whatever. Being nice feels really good.”
