Adam Ramey, the lead vocalist of the Dropout Kings, has died at the age of 32.
The late singer's death, which occurred just five days before his birthday, was confirmed on Monday in a heartfelt tribute shared by the band.
"Life comes at you in ways you can never predict. The rollercoaster of chasing your dreams and building with your brothers and friends is a joy few get to know in the most genuine sense, and one we were beyond blessed to experience with one another as Dropout Kings," the Facebook post read.
"Even still, we cannot always expect things to go the way we dream, nor can we understand just how special each moment with our friends and family are until those moments are memories," they continued. "With the heaviest hearts, we share that our brother, Adam Ramey, has passed away. His passion, energy, and love for music shaped Dropout Kings and touched countless lives."
"We’re devastated to say the least, but Adam’s spirit, charisma, and energy will not only forever inspire us, but will push us into the future to be the best that we can. We appreciate you all during this time and know he absolutely did as well for all the times we’ve shared," they concluded. "Rest in power, Adam. We’ll always love you, fam."
While an official cause of death has not been disclosed, a GoFundMe page launched by Ramey’s sister-in-law revealed he died by suicide following “a long and painful battle with addiction".
The fundraiser aims to support Ramey’s wife, Jamie, their 18-month-old son, Jude, and cover funeral and memorial expenses.
“On May 19th, just five days before his 32nd birthday, we lost Adam Ramey—beloved husband, father, son, and lead vocalist of Dropout Kings—to suicide,” the post read. “Adam loved deeply. He was a devoted husband to my 29-year-old sister, Jamie, and a proud father to their 18-month-old son, Jude. He was also an incredible uncle, friend, and human being.”
Ramey’s sister-in-law added: “He saved my life during one of my darkest times and always showed up for the people he loved. He brought life and energy to every room, every family gathering, and every stage he stepped on.”
As of this writing, the campaign has raised over $52,584 of its $60,000 goal to support Jamie and Jude and to establish a college fund in Adam’s memory
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Ramey co-founded Dropout Kings in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2016 after the breakup of his previous band, The Bad Chapter. Initially called Phoenix Down, the group rebranded as Dropout Kings in 2017 and quickly gained a following.
They signed a record deal in 2018 and released their debut album AudioDope that same year, followed by Riot Music in 2023.
Their 2021 single 'Virus' broke into Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Top 40, propelling the group into wider recognition. They toured extensively, opening for acts like Machine Gun Kelly and Crazy Town, with Ramey’s dynamic presence front and center.
Ramey’s final performance with Dropout Kings took place on February 8, 2024, at the Orpheum in Tampa, Florida. The band had several additional shows lined up for later in May and August at the time of his passing.
Outside of music, the late singer was a proud family man and entrepreneur. He ran PUSH Digital Marketing, a firm specializing in artist publicity and management, Daily Mail reported.
His Instagram reflected his deep love for his family. In a post from April 2024, Ramey stood alongside his wife and their son, captioning the photo: “Praise to the most high. thankful for all my blessings and grateful for this family and life of mine. Happy Easter errbody.”
A July 2024 post captured a reflective Ramey following the band’s EU/UK tour: “Back at home from this amazing EU/UK run. Finally reunited with the lights of my life. It brings tears to my eyes putting everything into perspective of how far I’ve come. Life can be terrifying and brutal. But, it can also be the most gratifying and beautiful thing too.”
“I’ve made so many mistakes in my life. But I truly wouldn’t change a thing—especially the terrible parts,” he continued. “Be thankful for the bad things. It brought me here and made me who I am now as I write this. And for once, I can actually say that I like this person.”
In one of his most heartfelt expressions, Ramey wrote: “All I want for my son is for him to be a good man. I don’t care what he does. He just needs to be that, and I’ll always be proud.”
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.