Jesse Malin Tributes Late Friend Howie Pyro With 'Hollywood Forever'

Official Announcement | Published: Apr 19, 2026 2:29 PM EDT

() Jesse Malin is paying tribute to his late friend Howie Pyro with the release of the new single "Hollywood Forever." Here is the official announcement for the song from kid logic:

"Howie could get along with anybody," Jesse Malin says about Howie Pyro, a beloved and influential bassist, DJ, and Patron Saint of Weird. ""Howie and I became friends when we were kids in Queens, because of our bond over music. It brought us together. He could be friends with both Johnny and Joey Ramone. Hells Angels, skinheads, drag queens, comic-book nerds, art collectors, fashionistas-they all loved him. And he would always say, if he had to go, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the place he'd want to be buried."

Howied died on May 4, 2022, after a long struggle with a failed liver. His friends made sure he could get his wish. Vampira is there, Jayne Mansfield, Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Toto the dog, Burt Reynolds, and his friends Mark Lanegan and Chris Cornell are nearby.

Listen to Malin's new single "Hollywood Forever," available everywhere on Wicked Cool Records. The song features guitarist Tad Kubler from The Hold Steady, Jimmy G from Murphy's Law, and Malin's longtime band: Derek Cruz (guitar), Rob Clores (keys), Paul Garisto (drums), James Cruz (bass). The B-Side is "Rudie Can't Fail" by The Clash.

Jesse suffered a life-changing spinal stroke on the anniversary of Howie's death, during a dinner party he threw for Howie's friends and family. "My new play Silver Manhattan is a love letter to New York City, and it's also a love letter to Howie. The story begins on the anniversary of his passing, and my accident. I didn't make it to that party. I ended up in the hospital for three months, but I did write this song to show him how much he meant to me. It's our story."

Howie Pyro started out in the 1970s at Max's Kansas City and CBGB as founder of the first underage punk band, The Blessed, and was a member of Freaks, The Chelsea Smiles, D Generation and Danzig. He co-founded the Greendoor Party in New York City, the infamous club Coney Island High, and was a member of the Blacklips Performance Cult. He collaborated with Johnny Thunders, Ronnie Spector, Rancid, Joey Ramone, Genesis P-Orridge, The Misfits, Debbie Harry, Kid Congo Powers, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Jayne County and Alan Vega.

A world-renowned DJ, Pyro hosted the groundbreaking show, Intoxica! Radio, an infectious two hours of primitive 45 RPM records from the deep underbelly of the original rock n roll era.