SiriusXM Remembers Wayne Swinny, Saliva Co-founder and Guitarist

Saliva co-founder and guitarist Wayne Swinny passed away yesterday of a spontaneous brain hemorrhage while on tour, the band confirmed. He was 59.

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Just hours before his death, Saliva posted on Facebook that Swinny “was discovered … in medical distress and paramedics were called. He was transported to a hospital where he was diagnosed with a Spontaneous Hemorrhage in his brain. He is currently in the ICU as we await further news. We ask that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers at this time.”

Not long after, the band posted, “It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our brother Wayne Swinny … Wayne will be missed by all those who knew him.”

Saliva is currently on the road for their Spring Mayhem Tour 2023 with special guests Through Fire and Any Given Sin. Swinny helped found the band in Memphis in 1996 along with singer Josey Scott, bassist Dave Novotny, drummer Todd Poole, and guitarist Chris D’Abaldo. Saliva released 11 studio albums between 1997 and 2018. Their song “Your Disease” was nominated for the Best Hard Rock Performance GRAMMY Award in 2002.

Bobby Amaru, who replaced Scott in Saliva in 2011, told TMZ, “I’m not even sure what to think or how to feel right now. My heart aches for Wayne’s family, his friends, and anyone who had the joy of being around him … I’m grateful that I got to share almost 12 years of my life with Wayne on the stage and most importantly off the stage.”

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