Lou Koller, the singer and co-founder of New York hardcore band Sick of It All, has died after a battle with cancer, his bandmates announced. Koller was 59.
In a social media post on the band’s Instagram page, a statement paid tribute to Koller and his work and said: “The level of loss that we feel at this time is overwhelming.”
It added: “We have lost a beloved friend and an iconic frontman. Lou had the power to raise everyone’s spirits at our shows with a smile and a sarcastic comment, and he won people over wherever we played, from every culture and every corner of the world.”
Koller revealed in June 2024 that he was suffering from cancer of the esophagus, which had extended into his stomach. His illness forced the band to cancel a European tour while he underwent treatment. This year would have seen the band celebrate its 40th anniversary.
After intensive treatment, including chemotherapy, Koller was declared cancer-free in May 2025, but the cancer returned shortly after.
“His battle is over now and he can finally rest. Hopefully he can somehow still see and feel the beautiful, positive mark he left on the world,” the band’s statement said.
Koller was born and raised in Queens, New York. He co-launched Sick of It All with his younger brother and drummer Armand Majidi in 1986 and become a key part of the city’s hardcore music scene. Sick of It All released 12 studio albums and became popular globally through many years of concert touring, winning a passionate audience for their work.
• This article was amended on 25 July 2026. Lou Koller’s name was originally misspelled in the headline as Keller.
