9:39 pm. I think thats what All Of Your Stones is about, and, you know, we named the record that; I think the whole thing is stay positive, and keep your head down, and press on. All material 2023 LEO Weekly, Louisville, KY. All rights reserved. When the Steel Woods' co-founder Jason "Rowdy" Cope died unexpectedly at the age of 42 in January, the band had recently been recording new music.On May 14, Cope's surviving bandmates will move . Required fields are marked *. January 31, 2021 @ This is truly a tragic loss for music in general, and the Southern Rock revivalist movement (among which, I think The Steel Woods do it best), specifically. Heaven will be rocking to his guitar solos. 7:38 pm. Cody Jinks Shows Up to Support Steel Woods' 1st Show Back 1 On MusicRow Chart For Third Time With Going, Going, Gone, Nashville SC Teams Up With Johnny Cash Estate For Man In Black Alternate Jersey. January 20, 2021 @ Brent Cobb, Dave Cobb, Jamey Johnson, Jason "Rowdy" Cope, Jason Cope, Lindi Ortega, Nikki Lane, Ted Russell Kamp, The Secret Sisters, The Steel Woods, Wes Bayliss, Trigger 6:17 am, Joseph Robson It seems to be unnamed. The death of the guitarist, songwriter and founding member of The Steel Woods Jason "Rowdy" Cope on January 16th sent shock waves across the independent country and southern rock world. Autopsy reports regularly take between 6 to 8 weeks to conclude. He played on multiple albums for Lindi Ortega, and produced her 2017 EP Til The Goin Gets Gone. Jason was always nice. January 17, 2021 @ Now it will be a posthumous release for Jason Rowdy Cope. He says his friend left this world happy and satisfied. 6:15 am. She is a longtime contributor to MusicRow. Lexi Len I just wanted to be a part of a band and he was able to get his artistic side out. January 16, 2021 @ Guess I missed Triggers writing on them. Kevin Smith Time slips away call a friend you havent talked to in a while and tell them you love them. Jason Cope started The Steel Woods with lead singer/guitar player Wes Bayliss. The Steel Woods are one of my faves, such amazing songs. Saw The Steel Woods in a small venue in FL and he was a hell of a guitar player. Your email address will not be published. January 24, 2021 @ LIKE ROLLING 'STONES': The Steel Woods soldier on in wake of co-founder He said he needed to leave the band and he was gonna start this other band. Whether its Waylon, Willie and legends of the past, or superstars in the making like Zach Bryan, our finger is always on the pulse of true country music. Nuance, thats what struck me, he coaxed pedal steel sounds out of that guitar by doing volume knob swells. Hes also featured playing guitar on her 2013 albumTin Starand the Secret Sisters 2010 self-titled album. Wes Bayliss wants you to know: He's good. He said we needed to talk and I thought, Oh shit, whats happened now? Cope also had played with Jamie Johnson for nine years and wrote with him. It seems like he prepared everybody to go on without him, Cobb says. 8:09 pm. of course cancelled due to covid . The Steel Woods were cofounded by Wes Bayliss, Jason "Rowdy" Cope, and business partner Derek Stanley. Jason Rowdy Cope, Co-Founder of Country-Rock Band The Steel Woods, Dead at 43, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY87Qrpw8z4&list=OLAK5uy_n5T2au6TtE1qyiNXmK_eyQ-2Dz8thtaAY, The Steel Woods Axe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY87Qrpw8z4&list=OLAK5uy_n5T2au6TtE1qyiNXmK_eyQ-2Dz8thtaAY). 5:25 pm. January 16, 2021 @ Its a lifestyle. January 17, 2021 @ It was this idea of us being the umpire. Only just seen this and truly gutted. My condolences to his friends and family. Jason 'Rowdy' Cope: How Steel Woods Guitarist Mixed Metal, Country Wes Bayliss: Well, you know I guess theres not a whole lot of differences, as long as we get to show up and play the show, you know. So sad to hear this news. 9:17 pm, Moondog "He was a natural bridge between feel and technique," says Cope's friend Jamey Johnson. Cope was a cult hero in outlaw country and Southern rock circles, playing with artists like Jamey Johnson. Please watch the full video to know more about Jason Rowdy's cause of death, age,. Thoughts with the family and band. Such a talented soul. Jason 'Rowdy' Cope of Country-Rock Band Steel Woods Dead at 43 - Outsider It was like a gut punch when my wife ( a huge SW fan also) told me of Rowdys passing this afternoon. Formed in 2016 after guitarist Jason "Rowdy" Cope, who played in Jamey Johnson's band for many years, met lead singer Wes Bayliss at a music venue in Nashville, The Steel Woods have been growing their grassroots following out on the road while opening for the likes of Miranda Lambert, Blackberry Smoke, Jamey Johnson, Whiskey Myers, Cody Jinks, and more. Rowdy died from complications from diabetes. Photo by Jessica Blankenship. In early 2019 they released their latest record Old News to much critical acclaim. January 17, 2021 @ Are there any influences that you think maybe people wouldnt expect or wouldnt necessarily notice? April 8, 2021 @ I mean there may be if you ask us all what our favorite bands were as kids or something. After knocking on the door repeatedly and receiving no response, the friend forced entry where he found Jason Cope unresponsive, and called 911. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Go to Appearance > Customize > Subscribe Pop-up to set this up. He was only 42. What do you most want people to take away? I loved the fact that he had enough drive and enough ambition., Related Stories R.I.P, Hans Rosen January 16, 2021 @ Very sad. News Take the love of your family, friends and fans. in Nashville Saturday morning, January 16th, to check on him. LEO spoke with Wes Bayliss, The Steel Woods singer and co-songwriter, to talk about All Of Your Stones, musical inspiration, and the bands return to touring in advance of their stop in Louisville. We are writing this still in a state of shock and kindly ask for your prayers for the family, friends and band at this time.Nashville Police Department Public Affairs Manager Don Aaron tells Saving Country Music that Jason Copes passing is currently considered an unclassified death, pending an autopsy by the local Medical Examiner. R.I.P. OHandley and a family friend said they are looking to host more fundraising events in Bell County in the near future. 11:27 pm, Ohhh man Im fuckin heart broken. https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Steel-Woods.jpeg, https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png, The Steel Woods To Release Final Album With Late Founder Rowdy Cope. We go at this thing with the same musical integrity as Jamey, Cope once told Rolling Stone of the Steel Woods musical approach. 6:11 pm, Trigger 'Hangxiety': What is it? And how to deal with it. - USA Today 9:15 am, Such sad news. We were the last two cars in the garage. Donnie Shelley I sat down to write about Jason, and his untimely passing shortly after he left this world. He schooled me on everything.. Johnson pauses to collect himself and goes on to explain, in a near soliloquy that dramatically rises and falls, how All of Your Stones is a testament to how he and Cope overcame respective bouts of self-sabotage. On all three of those covers, as well as on Steel Woods fan favorites like Axe, Straw in the Wind, and Anna Lee (part of a multi-song murder narrative that concludes with the cinematic Cold on All of Your Stones), its Copes supple, emotional playing that is the through-line. The next thing we heard after that was the lead that you hear on Macon. And that was just extraordinary. RIP Rowdy, you will be forever and greatly missed.Jason Cope made his name and became a familiar face to many country fans after touring in Jamey Johnsons backing band for nearly 10 years. The Steel Woods ' sophomore Thirty Tigers album, Old News, represents a creative leap for the southern roots rock songwriting team of Alabama native Wes Bayliss and his North Carolina partner Jason "Rowdy" Cope, who completed their first recordings barely months after they first met. RIP Rowdy, you will be forever and greatly missed., A post shared by The Steel Woods (@thesteelwoods), Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. Rowdy was an amazing talent, but even more than that he was a great human being. 6:30 pm. And he shared it with anyone willing to learn. The Steel Woods' Jason "Rowdy" Cope was with Mills on the last night of his life. January 16, 2021 @ In his final years, however, he began to use his musical talent and experience to help others. By Melissa Gaddie. Trigger January 24, 2021 @ Even though its just him pretending to be wild and crazy, he cared about that stuff, Cobb says. An Alabama-bred singer/multi-instrumentalist with a drawling Ronnie Van Zant voice and a love for classic country and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bayliss first met Cope in 2015 at a bar they were both playing in Dickson, Tennessee, in the hinterlands outside of Nashville. Cobb had worked with Rowdy on numerous projects. It serves to remind me that we should never take our friends for granted and we should reach out while we can. Cope received his diagnosis in 2018, when he temporarily left the Steel Woods to seek treatment for heavy drinking. ' Johnson says, laughing. Knaw. I had the pleasure of hearing the Steel Woods open up for Whiskey Myers in Michigan in Jan of 2020 & it was a show I shall never forget since both bands rocked it! 1:36 pm, What a devastating loss to the revitalization of Southern Rock music. RIP Rowdy, JAMAL CEPHAS Hopefully, the true cause will be revealed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. He will be missed. My coverage of his tragic and unfortunate death wasnt posted for clicks any more than any other article ever posted about the death of anyonewhether its one of the 40 full-length obituaries I posted for musicians who passed away in 2020, The lengthy In Memoriam article I posted at the end of 2020 that detailed the dozens of contributors to country that passed away in 2020, the obituary I just posted today (Thursday) for Randy Parton, or the dozens of articles I have posted following up on the deaths of other individuals important to the country music realm. He was an extremely kind, funny, smart, and talented individual. The Steel Woods to Release Third Album Following Death of Guitarist Rowdy grew up with metal. Whether Cope truly felt his time was coming or not, he consciously dedicated his remaining years to living down his nickname. I remember hearing Rock That Says My Name on Outlaw and thinking Who the hell is THIS? If we did, they never caught us. March 4, 2021 The Steel Woods have announced their third album, All of Your Stones, a record that arrives as unplanned eulogy to the Southern rock band's co-founder Jason "Rowdy" Cope. Cope became familiar to fans performing onstage with Jamey Johnson for nearly a decade, and was an in-demand session guitarist, playing on albums by Lindi Ortega and the Secret Sisters, among others. Correction: The original version of this story left out a word in the album title for All Of Your Stones. Although we never met . 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January 18, 2021 @ All rights reserved. kadodd1 In 2016, Cope founded the Steel Woods with singer Wes Bayliss in Nashville. 10:39 pm, Discovered the Steel Woods when they opened for Cody Jinks in Dubuque IA a couple of years ago, they quickly became one of my favorite bands. Theres of course no replacing Rowdy, but [Powers] is really just what we need right now. For Cope, who earned the nickname Rowdy for his wild-eyed, unpredictable persona, those good deeds and small victories were hard won. Cant Cash My Checks is one of my favorite Jamey Johnson tunes! The 42-year-old guitarist/ songwriter/ producer was loved by many. Jason Rowdy Cope memorial fund raises thousands of dollars - WYMT In his honor, a memorial fund was started and has since brought in several thousands of dollars. Jason "Rowdy" Cope of The Steel Woods performing at the Laurel Cove Amphitheater at Pine Mountain State Park. 8:53 am, I have a signed copy of a release with an axe in a log. The Test Pressings are Numbered and Dated 17/25, 10-01-2018..What kills me is Friday Night, I turned 61 Yrs old, and The LAST Record I listened to, Was Straw in The Wind..I am STUNNED Beyond Grief.I have NOT Liked a Bands Music Like these Guys in a LONG Time to Go Out and Spend that Kind of Money, Because I believed They Were (ARE !) 9:01 am. Daniele He was 42 years old. January 16, 2021 @ Not sure of his vaccination status. Though mostly know for their Southern rock style, the writing of both Jason Cope and Wes Bayliss is well respected within the country music community. 3:06 am. January 20, 2021 @ Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Breaks Down His Killer White House Correspondents Dinner Set, Bernie Sanders: Many GOP Leaders 'Don't Even Believe in Democracy'. Please watch the full video to know more about Jason Rowdys cause of death, age, net worth, short bio.Jason Cope, the guitar player for the Southern rock band the Steel Woods and a collaborator with artists like Jamey Johnson and Brent Cobb, has died. 1 On MusicRow Chart For Third Time With Going, Going, Gone, Nashville SC Teams Up With Johnny Cash Estate For Man In Black Alternate Jersey. No cause of death was given. Unbelievable loss to the world of music. 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Launches Emerging Artists Program With Lainey Wilson, Jimmie Allen, More, Sara Evans To Celebrate 20th Anniversary Of Restless With Special Ryman Show, Parker McCollum Shares Title, Cover Of Upcoming Album Never Enough, Chrissy Metz, Bradley Collins Release Inspirational New Childrens Book, Luke Combs Returns To No. I will truly miss hearing him ripping up the soundwaves. Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson, Don Was Return for the Last Waltz Tour 2022, Despite their 13-year age difference, Cope and Bayliss spoke a similar musical language in the Steel Woods even if the elder Cope was just as passionate about hard rock and heavy metal bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath as he was about the Allman Brothers and the Eagles. He played with Johnson for nine years, as well as on albums by The Secret Sisters, Lindi Ortega, The Oak Ridge Boys and more. A lifestyle so perfectly captured by the country greats of yesterday, but still alive and well today in artists who truly get it. And thats been really I think just rewarding on a personal basis for everybody thats involved which is a gift that I feel like Jason kind of left for us.. What an amazing band. January 16, 2021 @ View latest articles, news and information about what happened to Jason Cope, American musician (The Steel Woods, that died on Sunday January 17th 2021. . In Cope, Bayliss found the Gary Rossington to his Van Zant, as well as a way out of the solo artist grind. Despite the unexpected death in January of his bandmate Jason "Rowdy" Cope, who made up the other half of The Steel Woods, which pulls into The Shed in Maryville for a two-night stand starting Friday he's made his peace with it, he told The Daily Times this week. Widely known for their Southern rock style, Copes talent as a songwriter was well-respected within the country music community. Heart broken doesnt even touch the feelings inside me. Jason 'Rowdy' Cope, Steel Woods Co-Founder & Guitarist, Dies at 42 A post shared by Jason Cope (@jasonccope). You name it, they came.. 3:59 am, This is horrible. He was one of the kindest, funniest most talented people I ever knew, producer Dave Cobb said at the news. Still can't believe it. Coming out via Woods Music/Thirty Tigers, the bands third release is expected to be their strongest and most substantive work to date. The Steel Woods announced on social media, "We are writing this still in a state of shock and kindly ask for your prayers for the family, friends and band at this time. In 2017 the band released their premiere album,Straw in the Wind. January 16, 2021 @ I found it to be a task that was going to prove to be impossible to accomplish. I lost a friend today, Lindi Ortega wrote in a stament. Previous albums had been recorded in between tour stops, but COVID-19 gave the Nashville band the opportunity to really spend their time in the studio working through material and trying out different takes on songs. He always had his feet on the ground and head in the clouds. And you never knew what part he was going to drum up., Cope was so experimental and eager to try wildly different guitar parts, oftentimes in the same song, that Johnson devised a game he called Lead Guitar Baseball to critique and guide his guitarist. The album is unquestionably his magnum opus. We were in that room when he wrote Axe. Its where let the rain come down began, Cobb wrote. The 42-year-old was a hugely popular member of the community who had also worked as a player and producer with Founding guitarist for fast-rising and critically-acclaimed country and Southern rock band The Steel Woods, and long time session guitarist and touring member of Jamey Johnsons backing band Jason Rowdy Cope has died according to the band. , Todd Pottinger The recently revealed cause of Cope's death was due to severe complications from diabetes. The event brought people from all over the country as they raised more than $10,000 in two days. Townes Van Zandt, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Waylon Jennings mostly. On Saturday, his bandmates delivered the sad news via social media. Drink with us. Trigger The Steel Woods are carrying on in Copes memory and have already played shows with new guitarist Tyler Powers, who first stepped in when Cope was in rehab. Jason was sooo cool. Jason Cope, affectionately known as ' Rowdy ' and founder of Southern rock band The Steel Woods, has passed away at 42. I have been looking forward to going to see them in concert for years. Hes a killer player and I dont foresee anyone else in that seat for a long, long time, says Bayliss, who unknowingly eulogized his bandmate when he wrote the ballad Ole Pal for All of Your Stones. Hopefully I still will. Pictured: Rowdy (far right) with The Steel Woods. 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC All rights reserved. On the Steel Woods 2017 debut, Straw in the Wind, he persuaded the band to cover Black Sabbaths Hole in the Sky. For 2019s Old News, Cope had them record the British metal pioneers Changes. They tackle one of Baylisss favorites, Skynyrds I Need You, on All of Your Stones, reimagining it as a duet with Ashley Monroe. Theres an uncharacteristic quaver in Jamey Johnsons baritone when talking about the last song he ever wrote with Jason Rowdy Cope, his longtime friend and bandmate. He was such a passionate musician. Bayliss is also a fierce guitarist and the interplay between him and Cope, pushed along by the chugging, sometimes sludgy rhythm of bassist Johnny Stanton and drummer Isaac Senty, made for epic moments of tension and release. The dude was like clockwork, Cobb says. The surviving members of The Steel Woods include Bayliss, bassist Johnny Stanton and drummer Isaac Senty. He seemed to like arpeggios as well, and did a lot of interesting sounds and textures with unusual chord changes. 6:56 am. He sort of made it his mission with the new record with The Steel Woods being his band, OHandley said. On Whiskey Riff Raff, Steve Gazibara and Wes Langeler give an unfiltered and unapologetic take on country music, life, and all the craziness that comes with it. He was 42. Jason lifted one of the gates and we scurried out, hoping we werent breaking any laws. 7:30 am. January 17, 2021 @ He lived it. In early 2019 they released their latest record Old News to much critical acclaim. another great country musician. Pictured: Rowdy (far right) with The Steel Woods. LIKE ROLLING 'STONES': The Steel Woods soldier on in wake of co-founder The Steel Woods got off the ground six years ago, when Cope whose death was attributed to a complication of diabetes was playing guitar for outlaw country star Jamey Johnson. And now all of a sudden its in perfect line., With hindsight, Cobb sees a lot of knowing signs from Cope, especially in the smooth integration of Powers to the bands lineup and in key collaborations on All of Your Stones. It was so smooth. Jason "Rowdy" Cope, the 42-year-old co-founder of Southern rock band the Steel Woods, has died. 42 Comments. 28 subscribers 1.2K views 2 years ago In this video, we are sharing the sad news of Jason Rowdy's death. From Texas to Tennessee, Appalachia to Bakersfield, Whiskey Riff is THE unapologetic voice of the country music fan. He had a lot of pent-up creativity that he wanted to get out there., At the time, Cope was still playing with Johnson and he gingerly approached his boss with news of his departure. R.I.P. Jason Cope and I once got stuck in the same parking garage together. Jason 'Rowdy' Cope, Guitarist for the Steel Woods, Dead at 42 His cause of death was linked to his Type II diabetes, diagnosed in late. 7:17 pm. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. Jamey Johnson Joins Dave McMurray for Expansive Cover of Grateful Dead's 'To Lay Me Down' I got into The Steel Woods right before I move to Hawaii in 2018. and the experiences he spoke of were beautiful and full of a book of dreamsOver time we would speak here and there and during we never missed a beat but very few people knew just how close we were.