Egan, right, and Shadows Fall’s Brian Fair
The New York area has lost a pillar of its metal community, as Relapse Records director of retail sales and marketing Pat Egan has passed away. Egan had been in a hospital for the last several months after suffering complications from pneumonia. He’d been showing signs of improvement as recently as last week, and had been texting friends and sending updates about his condition via social media.
A familiar presence at New York and Long Island metal shows, Egan had been at Relapse for the past decade, helping champion bands including Mastodon, High on Fire, Baroness and Red Fang. Before that, he’d worked at KOCH Records, Energy Records and Pavement Records, among others. His entry into the industry was at Long Island independent record store Looney Tunes, where he rose up the ranks from clerk to metal buyer to store manager before entering the record business. A true metalhead, Egan’s passion for metal was apparent to all he came into contact with. He was also a dedicated father and husband. As the many people he’s mentored, laughed with, and rocked out to will be able to attest, it will be hard to imagine life without him.
