The drummer Brandon Stone, of the band The Nadas, passed away after an 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Brandon Stone died on Monday, 23rd September according to his wife, Morgan Stone. Stone said her husband “went into respiratory distress early Sunday morning and succumbed to all the illnesses today. He just declined so quickly in the last 24-36 hours,” according to a post on his CaringBridge page.
The Nadas, who got recognition first in Ames in 1995, has become a regular at the Iowa State Fair and on RAGBRAI, posted about his passing on Instagram and Facebook.
“Brandon’s courageous battle with cancer has been an inspiration to us all and a lesson in unrelenting positivity. Brandon was funny, kind, and a real badass drummer. We already miss him terribly,” the post mentioned.
The Nadas have gathered a loyal and dedicated following over the past three decades for their engaging live shows and unique 70s-meets-90s sound. Friends and music industry veterans Mike Butterworth and Jason Walsmith founded The Nadas in the early 90s, bonding and vibing over a shared mixtape while students at Iowa State University.
The Nadas have shared the stage with The Beach Boys, Bon Jovi, Big Head Todd, and Barenaked Ladies, been inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, sold over 300,000 albums, earned accolades from a wide range of major publications, and written the theme song for their hometown—twice. They’ve also developed a beautiful and narrative approach to songwriting, drawing inspiration from acts like The Head and the Heart, the Avett Brothers, Indigo Girls, and Tom Petty, to explore the everyday joys and tribulations that make up a life.
Brandon Stone was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer while on a spring break trip to Fort Collins, Colorado, in March 2023, according to a GoFundMe set up for his family. The fundraiser’s description said Stone was diagnosed with a “very serious illness” during a spring break trip to Colorado.
On CaringBridge, a site dedicated to keeping friends and family abreast of the health and progress of a loved one, Brandon’s wife, Morgan, shared that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The GoFundMe had raised more than a quarter of its $120,000 goal to benefit the Oskaloosa native, who is a member of the beloved Iowa-based folk and alternative rock band.