Bing Austria, stalwart of Philippine music, has died at 62

Bing Austria, a stalwart in Philippine music, has died. He was 62.

On his Facebook page Monday, June 8, Austria's family confirmed the musician's death, saying he passed away from sepsis.

Sepsis is "a life-threatening reaction to an infection that causes your immune system to harm healthy tissues and organs," Cleveland Clinic said.

"After more than a week battling sepsis at the ICU, Abraham 'Bing' Austria is now painless and sent off by his family and loved ones to a nice place," Austria's family said, referencing the cult favorite song "Nice Place" by one of his bands, Juan Pablo Dream.

"We are deeply grateful for all the financial support and assistance everyone has extended. Your help gave Bing a fighting chance," they added as they promised to share details about his funeral service.

"Thank you for keeping Bing and his family in your thoughts and prayers," they said.

On May 29, his brother Angel Gomez Austria took to the musician's Facebook account to share a photo of the Austria in the hospital. Later on, his family shared that "Bing is currently fighting for his life at the ICU" and sought monetary help.

A prolific musician and singer/songwriter, Bing was the keyboardist of local seminal ska band Put3ska as well as of the reggae band Tropical Depression. In the new century, he became the frontman of mod outfit Juan Pablo Dream and then founded the Flippin' Soul Stompers.

Tributes immediately poured from bands and musicians who have worked with Bing, including Tuesday Vargas who began her tribute, saying "To my mentor, my big brother, and one of the brightest anchors of my musical life—rest easy now, Kuya Bing."

As she looked back on their long history, their many clashes and differences, and "the unshakable love and a bone-deep admiration for everything you were," Tuesday thanked Bing "for the lessons, the tough love, the shared history, and the music that changed my life."

"The local scene will never be the same without your style and your fire, but your legacy lives on in every beat we play," she said.

Five days before his family's plea for help, Bing shared a new song he wrote "while we were stuck in traffic on the way home from Bicol to Manila."

"There were so many things popping into my head at that moment, I felt like a bomb about to explode," he said as he encouraged his fans, friends and followers to listen to the song. He called it "Bomba!"

— LA, GMA News