Green Day and The Offspring pay tribute after death of The Adolescents’ Steve Soto

"I don't know what to do. Or to say. Goodbye my brother."

Steve Soto, the founder of seminal US punk bands The Adolescents and Agent Orange, has died at the age of 54.

A cause of death is yet to be revealed, but his passing was announced on Twitter by Adolescents bandmate Tony Reflex.

“With heavy heart I share the passing of Steve Soto, my friend and bandmate since 1979,” Reflex wrote.

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“I don’t know what to do. Or to say. Goodbye my brother.”

Soto had only finished a tour of America’s East Coast with the band last weekend, and was due to head on a European tour later this summer.

“Steve had just returned home from a successful east coast tour with The Adolescents and spent Tuesday evening doing what he loved to do; recording and making music with his friends Greg Antista and Jim Monroe, and was very much looking forward to the upcoming European tour starting next week,” the band and Soto’s family told Rolling Stone

“Wednesday afternoon he passed away peacefully in his sleep. This has taken us all by surprise. Our hearts and prayers are now with his family and friends. We ask during this time to respect their privacy. Thank you so much for the years of love and support you have shown Steve and all of his bands. It means so much and will not be forgotten.”

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I have to share the story with this post. Last night around midnight I was fuming over the current political/social climate that’s reeking havoc in America. I wanted to lash out. I wanted to punch something. I wanted to scream fuck you into the ether.. alas I decided to make a playlist instead. punk rock bands that reflect my despair. Something fast loud catchy. I like drugs! I want to give you the creeps! Teenage rebel!! GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE! Code blue!! I couldn’t decide which adolescents song to put on.. hmm.. Rip it up? Creatures? Kids of the black hole? The whole album is so great. Finally decided on Amoeba remembering seeing them in Sacramento in a Park in the 80s.. such a great show. Such a great song. This playlist hit the right spot for me when I needed it the most. Twisted, fucked up, brilliant. Music is a powerful tool in times of anger and sadness. Anyway an hour later I looked at Instagram and saw people eulogizing Steve Soto died. Life isn’t fair. Sometimes it just sucks.. But music can help you feel like you’re not alone. Amoeba did that for me last night. RIP Steve Soto

A post shared by Billie Joe Armstrong (@billiejoearmstrong) on

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Paying tribute on Instagram, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong wrote: “I looked at Instagram and saw people eulogizing Steve Soto died. Life isn’t fair. Sometimes it just sucks.. But music can help you feel like you’re not alone. Amoeba did that for me last night. RIP Steve Soto.”

The Offspring wrote on Twitter: “We are devastated by the news of Steve Soto’s passing. He played in so many great bands, was a great bass player, guitar player, & singer, but mostly he was just an honest & sweet guy. He was our hero in the Adolescents and an inspiration to us as musicians.”

Although known for his solo work, Soto was most renowed for his work with The Adolescents.h

He co-founded Agent Orange in 1979, before leaving the band within a year to form the Adolescents.

Between 1981 and 2016, the group recorded eight albums, a period in which Soto also worked as a solo artist and played in numerous other groups

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