The rock world is mourning the loss of Dave Allison, the original guitarist for Anvil. He passed away yesterday at the age of 68, with the cause of death remaining undisclosed.
Allison was a key figure in Anvil’s early years, contributing to their first five albums before leaving the band in 1989. His work helped shape the band’s signature sound and left a lasting impact.
Anvil shared a heartfelt message following his death, expressing their grief and remembering him as a close friend. His legacy and contributions will be remembered by fans and fellow musicians alike.
A Quiet Farewell
No official details have been released regarding the death of Dave Allison, but unconfirmed reports suggest he may have been battling cancer. Allison was a vital member of Anvil from its early days in 1973 until 1989.
During his time with the band, he contributed to their rise in the metal scene, playing a key role in albums that shaped their legacy. His final appearance with Anvil was on their live album Past and Present.
Anvil’s drummer, Robb Reiner, shared a personal tribute, recalling a surprise visit to Allison’s cabin earlier this year. He noted the guitarist’s isolation and expressed his shock at the news of his passing.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
Reiner shared that his visit with Dave Allison brought back many memories but also revealed the guitarist’s declining health. Sadly, a dinner they had planned together never came to pass. “R.I.P. my old friend,” Reiner wrote in tribute.
In 2017, Allison briefly reunited with Anvil for a special show near his home. It was a rare moment of reconnection after years apart from the band.
Reflecting on Anvil’s early days, Allison once shared that the band practiced relentlessly for ten months before their first show, working hard every day to carve their place in metal history.
The Early Anvil Days
Dave Allison reflected on the band’s beginnings, sharing that they had their first album written before playing their debut gig. During that time, they self-recorded and produced Lips, which later became Hard ‘n’ Heavy, Anvil’s first official album.
Allison remembered how clubs demanded tribute bands, so they bent the truth. “We said we played all the current hard rock, but we didn’t. Though we did a lot of Ted Nugent,” he humorously recalled.
Looking back on his work with Anvil, Allison admitted that recording was a serious process for the band. Though tensions sometimes arose, he believed the hard work and collaboration paid off, with the albums speaking for themselves.