Former members of Every Time I Die have shared tributes to their longtime bandmate Andy Williams following his death at the age of 48 on September 5.
Williams suffered a medical emergency during Enjoy Wrestling’s Five-Year Anniversary event at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania, collapsing at the end of a tag team match. Medical personnel administered CPR before he was transported to the hospital, and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed his death.
Following news of his passing, several of Williams’ former Every Time I Die bandmates reflected on their years together and remembered his kindness, humor and larger-than-life personality.
Former guitarist Jordan Buckley, who spent 28 years alongside Williams, recalled a story from Warped Tour in which Williams asked production if he could attempt to break the Guinness World Record for most hugs given during the tour’s Chicago stop.
“Today is the saddest day of my entire life,” Buckley wrote. “Everything you read about him is true. I’ll cherish every minute we spent together, regret every minute we didn’t, and promise to spend the rest of my life being more like him. We all should.”
Buckley concluded, “I love you so much Andy. I don’t want to keep typing because I’d never stop, but I don’t want to hit send because I don’t want this to be real. I’ll see you in everything forever.”
Former bassist Stephen Micciche recalled spending four hours having lunch with Williams in Buffalo just six weeks before his death. Micciche said he had originally planned only a brief visit but canceled the rest of his plans as the two spent the afternoon laughing and telling stories.
“Andy was a lot of incredible things. But his true gift, almost cheat code like, was next level excelling at everything he put his creative mind and energy to, the infectious passion that he carried with it, always moving forward, & how he made everyone feel welcome & loved around him no matter who you were. And I’m lucky and honored to have had a front row seat to witness it for nearly 3 decades.”
Micciche, who said he looked up to Williams like an older brother, also reflected on watching him begin his wrestling career at 35 and successfully pursue two of his childhood dreams.
“He was a walking superhero to me who I just thought would always be here,” Micciche wrote.
Micciche also revealed that the final recording Every Time I Die made was a cover of Cave In’s “Youth Overrided,” a song he said was a favorite of both himself and Williams.
“Andy, I love you. Life will never be the same. Thank you for making me & many others better people for knowing you. What an eternal gift. Share an Andy moment if you got one so I can read them forever. Til the other side.”
Former Every Time I Die drummer Clayton “Goose” Holyoak remembered Williams for his kindness and determination, recalling how he constantly welcomed new people into his life and pursued goals others might have considered impossible.
“You were a true example of kindness with a beautiful mix of chaos and adventure,” Holyoak wrote. “I’ll never forget the way you were always ready to include new people along your journey and thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be one of those people.”
Holyoak continued, “You wanted to do the things that couldn’t be done. Anything you put your mind to you would attain. You showed us how to live life to the fullest and I was lucky enough to be in the seat with you.”
He concluded, “I’ll remember you every day for the rest of my life. See you in the beyond, Big Man.”
Former Every Time I Die vocalist Keith Buckley shared a brief tribute to his former bandmate, writing, “I love you, Big Man.”
Former bassist Josh Newton similarly wrote, “Until next time. Tell your friends you love them. He did.”
Former drummer Daniel Davison also shared a pair of tributes through his Instagram Stories, describing Williams as “one of the most kind and special people” he had ever known.
“Hard to process this news. Andy was one of the most kind and special people I’ve ever known. I’ll be eternally grateful for his friendship. This is going to hurt so bad for so long for so many people. Love you Andy.”
In a second post, Davison reflected on performing alongside Williams during his time in Every Time I Die.
“What a true privilege and joy it was to look up while playing every night and lock in with Andy. Was magic in its purest form. His presence, kindness, humor, perspective, and approach to life were absolutely otherworldly.”
He continued, “The ways that he showed up for his friends and family were truly inspiring to me, thats a core Andy memory that goes back to when we first became friends in 2002.”
TMZ has also obtained dispatch audio from the emergency response to Williams’ collapse. In one call, a dispatcher reported that a male wrestler had been injured during the match and had hit his head on a ring post. A second call to the venue requested “emergent lifting assistance,” with police and EMS already on scene.
The newly obtained audio provides additional details about the emergency response at Mr. Smalls, though it remains unclear what role, if any, the reported head impact played in Williams’ medical emergency. An official cause of death has not been released.
Williams was a founding member and longtime rhythm guitarist of Every Time I Die, performing with the influential Buffalo hardcore band throughout its career until the group disbanded in 2022. More recently, he played guitar with Atomic Rule while continuing his professional wrestling career as The Butcher.
All Elite Wrestling, where Williams competed for several years as The Butcher alongside his longtime tag team partner The Blade, also paid tribute following his death, describing him as a “trailblazing musician with ETID and Atomic Rule” who was “incredibly respected by his peers both in and out of the ring.”
We extend our condolences to Williams’ family, friends, bandmates and fans.
Photo by Michael Watson
