Alt-rock poster artist Frank Kozik has died at the age of 61, his wife confirmed.
A statement on his Instagram page delivered saddening news about Kozik's passing on Tuesday, revealing that the graphic artist died on May 6. The news left the music industry heartbroken as he played a huge role as a designer of rock bands' album covers and tour posters for decades before his death.
Frank Kozik Dead at 61
Kozik's wife, Sharon, took her time to pay tribute to her husband and remember the contributions he made before his passing. She called him a "man larger than himself" who became an icon in each of the genres he worked on.
She also applauded his efforts that changed the music industry and others through his art.
"He loved his wife, his cats, classic muscle cars, mentoring others and Disneyland. His forceful presence will be missed by all who knew him," the statement, which was also shared on Facebook, continued. "His legacy, like all great masters, will live on through his art and our memories of him."
His family requested privacy amid the dark time in their lives. Meanwhile, a memorial service for Frank Kozik is being arranged as of press time, and his cause of death is yet to be confirmed to the public
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Kozik started his career by creating show posters and flyers for bands in Austin, Texas, where he used to serve in the US Air Force. He soon expanded his empire and became known nationally and internationally.
He savored the peak of his career during the 1980s and 1990s when he was tapped to create the posters and art-related materials for several music acts, including the Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, the Offspring, the Melvins, Queens of the Stone Age, and the White Stripes, to name a few.
After focusing on his works in the music industry, he launched his printing shop and created Man's Ruin record label.
Why Frank Kozik Stopped Working in the Music Industry Revealed
Despite having a blooming career in the music industry, Kozik soon stopped working at the scene and went out of music.
In a 2010 interview with Jeremy Riad, he revealed that he quit because of the "f**king a**holes" who wanted to build the little fort. He compared the current situation to what they experienced in the past: seeing everyone work together to "make cool things happen."
As bands started to have their own platforms, Kozik reportedly began to hate it and ultimately got out of the music scene.
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