"There is no one else on the planet like Beau."
Beau Skowron, co-frontman and steel guitar player of the foot-stomping horror country outfit Graveyard Train, has sadly passed away “with grace and good humour after an epic fight with a cruel disease.”
As shared by Graveyard Train in a post dedicated to their bandmate, “there is no one else on the planet like Beau. He existed outside the box, like some kind of burning hot fireball of creativity. He didn’t have an off switch. He was constantly making new music and art, even at the end.”
Beau at Old Bar (photographer unknown)
Graveyard Train featured as the cover of Beat, as well as their album Hollow appearing as Album of the Week back in 2012. “Anyone who’s witnessed the band in action can attest that every Graveyard Train show stands as a spectacle to some extent,” we stated in one of the many features Beat have written about Graveyard Train.
Fans took to the band’s post to share their condolences, with one person saying “every time I saw you play I danced until I couldn’t walk or breathe. Your energy was amazing and I was in awe. Such a loss. Sending love and thoughts to the close friends and family.”
“I’ll miss those surprise, rib cracking hugs,” The Old Bar shared on their Facebook. “You were an important part of Oldie and we will miss you dearly.”
Graveyard Train in the studio (credit Emma-Jane Johnston)
“I will always remember him for being a solid, available person with kind eyes, a disarming smile, and mad genius skills in his endeavours,” a commenter on the Old Bar’s post shared. “Also for watering fake plants with all the love in his heart.”
“You get the sense that Graveyard Train is a leading the charge of a palpable movement in the local music scene, riding as the vanguard of a resurgent appreciation for the darker side of folk music,” we wrote about the band back in 2011.
“Graveyard Train was only one piece of Beau’s kaleidoscopic musical and artistic output,” the band’s tribute post continued. “When we played music he threw 100% of himself into every song and performance.”
“He absolutely owned every stage that he stood on – it didn’t matter if it was a huge festival or a tiny bar. At the end of every single Graveyard Train show Beau would be drenched in sweat, his guitar covered in blood and his voice raspy and blown out.
“He always gave it his all, and he was amazing. If you saw a Graveyard Train show, then you know.
“The world has just lost a star. We at Graveyard Train feel incredibly lucky that we could be briefly be part of his orbit. Writing and playing music with him was a joy and privilege.”
Vale, Beau Skowron.
Beat Magazine would like to thank Nick Finch for supplying the photographs in this article.
