The 27’s – Jeremy Michael Ward 1976 - 2003

Part 35 in a series on “The 27’s” – notable musicians who have passed away in their 27^th year.

Jeremy Michael Ward was the sound technician and vocal operator for The Mars Volta and for the dub outfit De Facto. He created many of the soundscapes heard on The Mars Volta's album De-Loused in the Comatorium. Ward, aside from his role in The Mars Volta and De Facto, played guitar, and was a visual artist working mostly in pen and ink.

Ward was found dead in his Los Angeles home by his roommate on the evening of Sunday, May 25, 2003 of an apparent heroin overdose. He was 27 years old at the time, and his death came less than a month before the release of De-Loused in the Comatorium. A journal Ward found while working in the repossession business in Los Angeles served as a source of inspiration for The Mars Volta's album Frances the Mute. Ward also came up with the name for Amputechture, The Mars Volta's third album. He was the cousin of At the Drive-In and Sparta member Jim Ward, and brother of El Paso punk rock bassist Jered Ward.

Ward's death was the impetus for The Mars Volta members Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López to quit using opioids.