Tony Sly, the lead singer and main songwriter for veteran California pop punk band No Use For a Name, has passed away at the age of 41.

“It is with great sorrow that we must say goodbye to Tony Sly of No Use For A Name,” the group’s label, Fat Wreck Chords, said on its web site. “We received a call earlier today of his passing, and are devastated. We have lost an incredible talent, friend, and father – one of the true greats.” No cause of death was given, noted MSN.

The label’s owner, NOFX frontman, and friend to Sly, “Fat Mike” Burkett, added, “One of my dearest friends and favorite song writers has gone way too soon. Tony, you will be greatly missed.”

Sly originally joined the band in 1989, taking founding member John Meyer’s spot as frontman. No Use For a Name was originally conceived as a hardcore band, but softened over the course of its two-decade career. Successes for the group include 1993′s Leche Con Carne, which spawned the breakthrough single “Soulmate,” and 1997′s Making Friends. Their popularity fell some with the dawn of the new millennium, but continued to make Warped Tour appearances and remained a heavy influence on similar bands that followed.

Sly had been working on a solo career at the time of his death as well. His most recent effort, 2011′s Sad Bear, showed Sly breaking from his pop punk roots into a more melodic, acoustic direction.

Sly’s last recording with No Use For a Name was 2008′s The Feel Good Album of the Year.

Below are some selected tracks from Tony Sly’s acoustic career and his tenure with No Use For a Name.

No Use For a Name’s breakthrough single, 1993′s “Soulmate”:

“Therapy” from Tony Sly’s “Sad Bear” solo album:

One of Tony Sly’s final recordings with No Use For a Name, “I Want to Be Wrong”:

No Use For A Name Frontman Tony Sly Dead At 41 is a post from: The Inquisitr