Alex Etheridge (October 22, 2009 – July 19, 2023) was an American boy from
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...
, whose battle with bone cancer received international attention, leading to recording with the Minneapolis rock band Soul Asylum and a viral video of a meeting with his musical hero,
Travis Barker
Travis Landon Barker (born November 14, 1975) is an American musician, songwriter, and music producer who is the drummer for the rock band Blink-182. He has collaborated with hip hop artists, is a member of the rap rock group Transplants ...
of
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Poway, California, in 1992. Its current and best-known line-up consists of bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. Though its so ...
.
Background
Alex Etheridge was diagnosed with bone cancer in January 2022, at age 12. After then he underwent treatment including chemotherapy, radiation, and two clinical trials, which required travel to
Houston, Texas
Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
.
Etheridge played drums and guitar since age 5. Playing music gave him a positive focus during long, painful hospital stays. He was a fan of pop-punk bands such as
Green Day
Green Day is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, with drummer Tré Cool joining in 1990. In 1994, their majo ...
and Blink-182, in particular drummer Travis Barker.
In January 2023, doctors estimated that Etheridge had only six months to live.
Soul Asylum and "Home Sweet Home"
Through the nonprofit organization Kill Kancer, Etheridge met the members of Minnesota alternative rock group Soul Asylum, first through a Zoom call and in March 2023, at the band's invitation, Etheridge and his family traveled to
Minneapolis
Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...
to meet in person. (Kill Kancer was founded by Mary Beth Mueller, the widow of original Soul Asylum bassist
Karl Mueller
Karl Mueller (July 27, 1963 – June 17, 2005) - accessed February 2011 was an American
, who died of esophageal cancer in 2005.)
Soul Asylum singer
Dave Pirner
David Anthony Pirner (born April 16, 1964) is an American songwriter, singer, and producer best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for the alternative rock band Soul Asylum.
Early life and work
Pirner was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and ...
and bassist Jeremy Tappero met Etheridge at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis, which was founded by musician Ed Ackerson, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2019; Ackerson's widow Ashley donated the studio time to Etheridge. At Flowers, the trio recorded Etheridge's song "Home Sweet Home". The song is about how Etheridge's thoughts of returning home helped him deal with being in the hospital. It was largely written by Etheridge himself, who had worked out the drum parts, lyrics, and main guitar riff before meeting with Soul Asylum. He and the band spent four hours in the studio working on the song, which was later released on
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a German audio streaming service owned and operated by SoundCloud Global Limited & Co. KG. The service enables its users to upload, promote, and share audio. Founded in 2007 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, SoundCloud is ...
.
Etheridge performed his music live in May 2023 with the Arizona punk band Authority Zero.
Blink-182
A report on Phoenix TV station
KSAZ-TV
KSAZ-TV (channel 10) is a television station in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is owned and operated by the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox network through its Fox Television Stations division alongside KUTP (channel 45), which airs MyNetw ...
was seen by Australian social-media influencer Samuel Weidenhofer, who traveled from Melbourne to help arrange a meeting with Alex's idol Travis Barker. Etheridge met Barker backstage at Blink-182's June 14, 2023, concert in Phoenix, and Etheridge and his family sat in the front row for the concert later. The two spent more than an hour together, talking and playing drums, including an introduction to Barker's wife
Kourtney Kardashian
Kourtney Kardashian Barker (born Kourtney Mary Kardashian, April 18, 1979) is an American media personality and socialite. In 2007, she and her family began starring in the reality television series ''Keeping Up with the Kardashians''. Its suc ...
via FaceTime.
Weidenhofer recorded the meeting with Barker and released it later as a TikTok video, which has received more than 17 million views as of July 2023.
Death
Etheridge's condition worsened around July 18, and friends and family gathered to say goodbye. He also received a message from Barker, and spoke with LSU gymnast
Olivia Dunne
Olivia Paige Dunne (born October 1, 2002) is an American influencer and former artistic gymnast. She is also a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and former member of the LSU Tigers women's gymnastics team. In 20 ...
and actress
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Shrader Lawrence (born August 15, 1990) is an American actress and producer. She is known for starring in both action film franchises and independent dramas, and her films have grossed over $6 billion worldwide. The List of high ...
.
Alex Etheridge died on the morning of July 19, 2023, at the age of 13.