Kevin Chown Obituary: Bassist From Escanaba Dies at 56 Following A Battle With Cancer

Kevin John Chown, the versatile rock and metal bassist known for his work with Artension, Tarja, and SteelHeart, has died at his home in Escanaba, Michigan, after a battle with cancer.

A Career Spanning Rock and Metal

Chown, born December 24, 1969, passed away on July 6, 2026, at the age of 56. Over the course of his career, he built a reputation as one of the genre’s most in-demand bass players, lending his skills to a long list of acts. Among the groups and artists he performed with were:

• Artension
• Tarja
• SteelHeart
• Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats
• Edwin Dare
• Magnitude 9

That range of collaborators, spanning progressive metal, symphonic rock, and hard rock, reflected the flexibility that made him a sought-after player throughout his time in the industry.

Tributes Pour In From Bandmates and Collaborators

News of his passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from musicians he worked alongside for years.

Tarja Turunen, the Finnish vocalist he collaborated with for a long stretch of his career, shared an emotional message on social media expressing how heartbroken she was by the news, saying she couldn’t believe what she’d heard, calling it heartbreaking.

His bandmates in SteelHeart, where he had served as bass player for seven years, also honored his memory. The band described him as someone who brought his heart and soul to every performance, noting that the dedication and friendship he showed on the road were rare to find.

These tributes highlight not just his musicianship but the personal connections he formed with the people he worked with over decades in the business.

Services and Arrangements

According to an obituary published by Anderson Funeral Homes, Chown died at his home in Escanaba. Funeral arrangements have been set, with visitation and services scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Escanaba, Michigan. The Anderson Funeral Homes of Escanaba and Gladstone are handling arrangements for the family, and a complete obituary is expected to be released in the coming days.

For those wishing to pay their respects, the funeral home has made options available for sending flowers or planting a memorial tree in his honor through their floral store.

Kevin Chown’s death marks the loss of a musician whose work touched multiple corners of the rock and metal world, and whose impact on those who played alongside him was felt deeply, as shown by the tributes shared in the wake of his passing.

Fans and fellow musicians continue to share memories and condolences online as more details about services and a full life retrospective become available. His legacy as a bassist who moved seamlessly between symphonic metal, progressive rock, and hard rock projects leaves behind a body of work spanning multiple decades and genres, one that will likely be remembered fondly by collaborators and listeners alike for years to come.