Ex-Sense Field & Further Seems Forever Vocalist Jon Bunch Passes Away Aged 45

Long-time fans of mid-'90s-to-early-2000s post-hardcore and emo/indie-rock are in mourning today following the news that Jon Bunch, the former vocalist of Further Seems Forever (once fronted by Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba) and progenitor outfit Sense Field, has passed away at the age of 45.

According to Diffuser, the news was broken to Bunch's fans by way of Facebook post (since deleted, or made private), which explained that Bunch had died sometime in the early morning of 1 February, though no cause has yet been publicised.

"With broken hearts and so much difficulty, we write these words to all of you who love Jon. He is no longer with us now," the post reportedly read. "We think his life here ended early morning, Feb. 1, 2016, but it is uncertain at this time. Our love, his family."

The news was, as Alternative Press notes, additionally confirmed by Craig Ericson, the president of stalwart label Rise Records, in an Instagram post.

"We lost a great one," Ericson wrote alongside a screencap of Bunch performing in the video for Save Yourself, off Sense Field's 2001 LP Tonight & Forever.

"Rest in peace Jon Bunch. You were a hero to me and a friend."

Bunch co-founded Sense Field in 1991, helping to steer the six-piece emo upstarts to widespread renown over the next 13 years as the band became a prolific force in the scene. They released five full-lengths and six EPs and — though not quite on the same level — were one of a handful of bands from the scene (along with the likes of Sunny Day Real Estate, Jimmy Eat World and Texas Is The Reason) to achieve a degree of broad success that would inform the third-wave explosion (and watering down) of the genre come the mid-2000s.

Indeed, Bunch was, to a degree, complicit even in this movement: following Sense Field's dissolution in 2004 (though they did reunite a couple of times in the early 2010s), he was the third vocalist to take the reins for Further Seems Forever, following the departure of Carrabba and his initial replacement, Jason Gleason. Despite stepping into twice-worn shoes, Bunch came to the band with a style all his own and in time to lend his distinct tones to the tracks on their third studio album, that year's Hide Nothing. The band broke up in 2006, reuniting several years later for a series of special shows, but with Carrabba once more at the fore.

In the wake of Further Seems Forever's break-up, Bunch and his FSF bandmate, Derick Cordoba, spent time touring Europe using the name Fields Forever, touting acoustic versions of Sense Field and Further Seems Forever's tracks. In the years since, Bunch spent time with post-hardcore outfit War Generation and had recently started focusing on a new project, Lucky Scars, for which he used the pseudonym "Johnny Scars".

Between his time in Sense Field and Further Seems Forever, Bunch rubbed shoulders with countless well-known figures of the emo, indie, punk and post-hardcore scenes, several of whom have begun to offer their condolences on social media. See below for a selection of commiserations from the likes of Chris Carrabba, Aaron Marsh (Copeland), Bryce Avery (The Rocket Summer), Hayley Williams (Paramore), Jimmy Eat World, Texas Is The Reason, Sick Of It All, Tooth & Nail Records and more.

It's with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to my friend. Rest in peace Jon. I love you. pic.twitter.com/ptSsdaqyxl

— Chris Carrabba (@ChrisCarrabba) February 2, 2016

We've lost a member of the Spartan family and one of our musical heroes. There's a light up ahead. RIP Jon Bunch. https://t.co/zFLac06kVF

— Spartan Records (@spartanrecords) February 2, 2016

Rest in peace, Jon Bunch. Your voice sang me to sleep many nights. Thx for your contribution to my fav Further Seems Forever album.

— hayley from Paramore (@yelyahwilliams) February 2, 2016

RIP Jon Bunch, your addition to Further Seems Forever especially impacted my life. Too many are leaving us behind this year...

— DARK MATTER TELLE (@TelleTWA) February 2, 2016

We are in total shock, today we found out that Jon Bunch departed this world. Jon was an inspiration to us in so many ways.....

— FurtherSeemsForever (@fsfofficial) February 2, 2016

Absolutely horrified at the news that Jon Bunch passed away. What an incredible dude. So talented and SUCH a good guy. What a loss.

— Aaron Marsh (@AaronMarshMusic) February 2, 2016

We just heard some very sad sad news. Our old friend Jon Bunch from Sense Field has past away. We don't know anything else. RIP Friend

— Sick Of It All (@SOIANYC) February 2, 2016

We are saddened by the loss of Jon Bunch. He was an incredibly talented musician and an even better person. #HideNothing @fsfofficial

— Tooth & Nail Records (@toothandnail) February 2, 2016

Hide Nothing is such an incredibly beautiful album. Lyrics that gave me hope in dark days. I loved Jon Bunch's spirit. Grateful for him...

— Bryce Avary (@TheRocketSummer) February 2, 2016

We are very sad to hear about the passing of Jon Bunch. He was such a talented and kind human being. He will be sorely missed!

— Jimmy Eat World (@jimmyeatworld) February 2, 2016