Tony Kinman Of Rank & File Dead At 63

Tony Kinman, the co-founder of the punk rock band The Dils and cowpunk pioneers Rank & File has died.

The singer/bassist was 63.

Kinman, who had been battling cancer after a March diagnosis, died at home in Los Angeles with his friends and family by his side.

The San Diego-born musician founded The Dils with his younger brother Chip. They’re considered by many to be one of the most influential bands of the ’70s Southern California punk rock scene.

After The Dils broke up, the brothers moved to Austin where they formed the cowpunk band Rank & File with Slim Evans and Alejandro Escovedo. Rank & File’s Sundown album on Slash is a modern classic, influencing everyone from Uncle Tupelo to the Jayhawks.

Kinman also founded the fuzzed-out band Blackbird and the acoustic duo Cowboy nation after Rank & File called it quits.