Missing Backroad Anthem Singer Craig Strickland Found Dead
Backroad Anthem’s lead singer Craig Strickland has been found dead after an extensive search that began with an ill-fated hunting trip at 2 a.m. on Sunday, December 27th. He was 29-years-old.
Strickland, along with friend Chase Morland when on a duck hunting excursion at Kaw Lake in Oklahoma on the 27th, and never returned. Chase Morland had posted an ominous tweet right before the two left, saying, “In case we don’t come back, @BackroadCRAIG and I are going right through Winter Storm Goliath to kill ducks in Oklahoma. #IntoTheStorm,” right as a major winter storm was approaching the region. Search teams found the body of Chase Morland and the overturned boat shortly after the search began, and found the dog that had accompanied the pair on the trip, leaving hope in the minds of Craig Strickland’s family that the singer would be found alive.
Search teams worked extensively to locate Strickland throughout the New Years Eve weekend as friends, fans, and family held prayer vigils for the missing singer. But on Monday, January 4th, the body of Strickland was found along the shoreline of Kaw Lake, north of where the boat had capsized. The 168 miles of shore length had made the search especially difficult for search and recovery teams.
The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s office has also determined that the cause of death for Chase Morland was drowning and exposure to freezing temperatures, though it could take another 4-8 weeks for the full autopsy report to be released. An autopsy will also be performed on Craig Strickland.
Backroad Anthem was a Bro-Country-style band based in Arkansas that had shared the stage with Justin Moore, Dierks Bentley, and many more. Strickland’s wife Helen Wisner was Miss Arkansas USA 2014.
January 4, 2016 @ 12:48 pm
This band’s music never did it for me, but in times like this it reminds us all that it’s people first, then music, and how precious life is. It’s a tragedy for all his family, friends, and fans. RIP Craig Strickland.
January 4, 2016 @ 1:17 pm
Condolences to fans, friends, and family.
These ‘lost in the wilderness’ stories always seem to strike a nerve with me. Guess I’m not the first . . .
http://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/to-build-a-fire.pdf
January 4, 2016 @ 1:27 pm
Very sad story. May he rest in peace and all my best wishes to his loved ones. Nature can turn deadly quickly for even the most experienced outdoorsmen.
January 4, 2016 @ 2:04 pm
Saddened to hear this. They opened for Joe Nichols at the Soybean Festival. They seemed to lean towards the bro sound and the college crowd. Nevertheless, they took time for the crowd after their set. I didn’t go to meet them as they weren’t my cup of tea either. That said, God be with his wife, loved ones and this band as they all attempt to pick up the pieces.
January 4, 2016 @ 2:07 pm
Thanks for this article, Trigger. It reminds us that as important as the nature of music is, it is of absolutely no importance compared to the value of life.
May Craig Strickland rest in peace and may his family find comfort despite this sudden and depressing tragedy.
January 4, 2016 @ 2:34 pm
It’s a sad thing that he disappeared for a long period of time and his family basically admitted that he was pretty much dead at that point.
January 4, 2016 @ 3:10 pm
Praying for the family!
In other news
Marilyn Manson and Shooter Jennings?
http://loudwire.com/marilyn-manson-guest-shooter-jennings-giorgio-moroder-inspired-countach-disc/
January 4, 2016 @ 3:23 pm
That’s old news. We’ve know about this for almost a year. It’s just today that the complicit media was ordered to dutifully report it by a publicist. And from a wholesale lack of original ideas or quality content, and an unwillingness to actually seek out any true news, they comply. I wonder where these folks were when the Shooter camp was using death threats, cyber-terrorism, and patsy’s in the media to cover up the nature of the death of his manager, and lumped any and all guilt and blame on a blogger in Texas.
January 4, 2016 @ 3:27 pm
I wonder how long it will be before all the anti-bro-country blogs begin dancing on his grave.
January 4, 2016 @ 4:05 pm
There’s a difference between liking/disliking someone’s music and being a decent human being. I highly doubt that any “anti-bro” blogs (if those even TRULY exist, the only blogs that should exist are honest ones) will take joy in someone they most likely don’t even know being dead.
Anyway, I don’t know this band but It’s shocking to hear of someone die so young. It’s already been said but it really reminds you how life can really be sometimes.
January 4, 2016 @ 6:50 pm
I sure hope you are simply trying to troll, because if you seriously think that bloggers are cheering for someone to die because of the style of music they play you are either entering some damn dark parts of the internet or cannot cognitively discern that not liking someones music does not equal you wish for them to no longer be amongst the living.
January 5, 2016 @ 8:45 am
I doubt it happens at all. A dude from a barely-known band dies in a lousy way. Who’s gonna gloat on that?
January 4, 2016 @ 3:52 pm
Anyone else think the guy on the right looks like Wil Wheaton?
January 4, 2016 @ 4:10 pm
Maybe I’m in a cynical mood but I bet the ducks were smart enough to stay away from the storm. They knew, but I guess underestimated, what they were getting into. I’m glad nobody got hurt searching for them. I do feel sorry for the family though.
January 4, 2016 @ 4:32 pm
Travis, it was bad decision on their part. Boat captains and pilots should always defer to Mother Nature.
January 4, 2016 @ 7:55 pm
I’ve never heard of this band but I’m sorry to hear this news anyway – sad start to the year.
January 4, 2016 @ 8:25 pm
Same here. 🙁 RIP Craig…
January 5, 2016 @ 8:38 am
I feel bad.
I also feel though that this is an example of putting oneself in a bad situation and taking unnecessary risks. Mother nature does not care.
I do a lot of backpacking and hiking. The number of people I see that ignore weather and basic safety considerations is astounding.
January 5, 2016 @ 12:19 pm
I agree. Living in whitetail deer country in the rural Midwest it’s my experience that the whole “when it’s time to hunt, ain’t nuthin’ gonna stop me” attitude is integral to the “bro-country” lifestyle.
January 5, 2016 @ 10:20 am
Chorus from a song I wrote :
The first time just might be the last time,
Remember that
The first time just might be the best time
You ever had
The first time is the best remembered
The most treasured
But it never lasts long enough…