Kevin Chown

He was a brilliant musician and an even better human being. Since his passing, he is being widely remembered for his exceptional talent but also for his kindness, gentle heart, words of encouragement, positive attitude, humbleness and loyalty to his friends.

Kevin spent his career traveling the world playing bass guitar on some of the biggest stages, at some of the largest music festivals in Europe and at famous music venues and clubs. A first-rate musician whose talent knew no boundaries, he navigated effortlessly within progressive rock, heavy metal, funk, R&B, jazz and classical.

Kevin was most widely recognized for his heavy metal work with Finnish vocalist Tarja Turunen, the band Steelheart, and Sebastian Bach. He was also part of Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats, the funk-rock fusion group featuring drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He was an important figure in progressive metal bands including Edwin Dare and Artension, Cosmosquad, Der Elefant, progressive rock band Tiles and blues band Bleeding Harp. He also toured with Uncle Kracker, Tony Macalpine and Paul Gilbert, released solo EPs including the critically acclaimed Freudian Slip (1996) and Light the Way (2017) and was an in-demand session player. But it all began in Escanaba, using his church confirmation money to buy his first guitar, forming a band called Tyrant and playing in bars at the age of 15.

After high school, he moved to Detroit to attend Wayne State University where he graduated with a degree in jazz studies. At the same time, he also pursued his love of rock ‘n’ roll and played with several bands around Detroit. These were his formative years that he described as where and when he learned how to be a professional musician. He then followed his dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 1997 though his true home was on the road. He believed in the power of music to connect people and loved the camaraderie of a band. Kevin once said his role as a bass player was to create a “carpet of confidence” and make his bandmates shine. He gave it all, in every note, every song, every gig with passion with his trademark long blond hair flying high. He appreciated every fan and every tech who worked behind the scenes.

In addition to seeing the world and playing for crowds of up to 100,000 people, he also led the kind of you-can’t-make-this-stuff-up kind of life – from playing a gig with the legendary Chuck Berry to being a cast member of season 8 on Sweden’s top rated reality show Allt for Sverige. Kevin was instrumental in organizing the Northern Lights Music Festival and got his then 93-year-old dad John Chown on stage while he performed with Sebastian Bach. Together father and son sang backup vocals on the Skid Row classic “Youth Gone Wild.” He once traveled from Escanaba to Indonesia — a 24-hour trip one way — just to play an 8-song gig. And the house he bought on the lake? It came with one condition . . . he had to move it. It was quite a sight to see his house being towed across the ice before being set on its new foundation. He also landed cameo roles in the CBS hit series “How I Met Your Mother,” playing a role he was quite familiar with – a bass player.

His life wasn’t as easy as it looked. In 2013 he underwent brain surgery after privately living with a seizure disorder for years. Kevin finally decided to go public when he realized it could be a way for him to encourage others who also lived with a chronic medical condition, that they too could pursue their dreams despite the challenges. In an interview, he said “For decades I carried this around, worried what people would think. I feel like I’m half way home already by simply embracing the reality of my situation.” He was brave and he was also driven. His first words after that serious surgery were “I just want to get back on the tour bus.” When asked why, he said, “I want to make music with my friends and make people happy.”

Kevin worked hard to recover his health and then had to prove he was up for the intensity of touring. He did and was back on the road. Central and Eastern Europe. Asia. South America. He was often the only American in the band and his travels broadened his view of the world. He had strong opinions about politics but was always civil and respectful of other points of view.

Life on the road took an unexpected turn when the Covid pandemic in 2020 put the music industry on hold. Kevin packed up his beloved golden retriever, Bubba, and left Los Angeles for rural northern Michigan to wait for life – and the music business – to return to normal. He had always been rooted to Escanaba, spending summers on Lake Michigan where he practiced his bass before heading back to the local airport for another far flung destination.

Kevin became a regular on WDBC radio in Escanaba and live streamed the show to give his fans a glimpse of his hometown, a place he loved and always advocated for during his travels. He also took on a legacy project by using his production skills to digitize and remaster his parent’s recordings (both of whom were also Escanaba music icons) and rare recordings of rock and roll bands from across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

He thought he’d be back on the road, but life had other plans for Kev. He found love. As his father had predicted decades earlier, he would marry a nice blonde and a good Finn from Rock (Michigan) a very small town outside Escanaba. Kevin married Julie Croasdell, the love of his life, on July 2, 2025.

He found new purpose and new creative inspiration as this new chapter began. He oversaw the reopening of the historic House of Ludington and then filled it with music, forming the House Band which played over 100 consecutive weeks before the historic gem was destroyed as a result of a fire. He also gave his mother’s historic grand piano to Leigh’s Garden Winery where live music now abounds. He helped organize the Northern Lights Music Festival which attracted a larger crowd than the population of Escanaba. Kevin helped to change the vibe in Escanaba and inspired live music seemingly everywhere. But he wanted to do even more for his hometown. Escanaba’s historic street signs throughout the city are now freshly painted, thanks to Kevin and a few of the friends he recruited. Those signs on every street corner are a reminder of his passion and as Kevin said, a small action can make a big difference. And he did.

Kevin Chown was born on December 24, 1969, to John and Ruth Nordine Chown. He is survived by his wife, Julie Croasdell, his sisters Amy Chown (friend Michael Growdon), and Karen Collier (husband David), niece Arianna Townsend (husband Tyler), and great-nephew Wells Townsend, and Julie’s daughters, Sydney and Haley (husband Dalyn Loomis and granddaughter Quinn), He is also survived by his cousins and uncle and his large circle of friends who he considered his brothers and family. He was proceeded in death by his parents and brother Mark.

Visitation will be on Saturday, July 18, from 1-3:30 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba, Michigan. The funeral will be at 4 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church with Rev. Lily Brondyke officiating. The church will also live stream the funeral on the church’s Facebook page, A brief burial service will immediately be following the funeral. All are invited to the afterparty to celebrate his life beginning at 5 p.m. at the Elk’s Club. On Wednesday, July 22, the House Band All-Stars will host a tribute to its founding member Kevin Chown at the Escanaba Yacht Club from 7-10 p.m. The event is free and open to all. Contributions in his memory are also being accepted for the Kevin Chown Music Scholarship being established at Escanaba High School. (EHS, Attention Scholarships, 500 S. Lincoln Road, Escanaba, MI 49829.)

Kevin leaves an inspiring legacy and would want you to honor his memory by going to listen to live music, making your community better, being kind and following your dreams.

Anderson Funeral Home of Escanaba is assisting the Chown family. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.andersonfuneralhomes.net.