Split Lip Rayfield member dies

The bluegrass-metal harmony that formed Split Lip Rayfield’s sound struck a sad chord Thursday. Richard Kirk Rundstrom, the singer/songwriter/guitarist for the band passed away at the age of 38 after a long battle with cancer.

As a part of Split Lip, Rundstrom gave Americana a nod followed by a headbang with finger-bleeding fast picking matched with lyrics about big engines and bad love.

Crowds responded with frenzied, sweaty dancing and energy that came close to, but in all instances was never able to beat, the energy flowing from the fellas on stage.

Rundstrom was a presence on his own — “to see him on stage was to see a man totally focused on, totally possessed with, the music of the moment,” the obituary on BloodshotRecords.com, Split Lip’s label, reads.

Cancer didn’t slow Rundstrom down. The Bloodshotrecords.com said when Rundstrom was diagnosed last spring, he was given just a few months.

“It is a testimony to his incredible spirit that he was performing into this month,” the site said. “The fans that came out during this time filled the venues with palpable love.

“Kirk is responsible for a lot of people having a lot of fun over the years; if everyone could have that on their resumes, the world would be a much better place.”