Howie Pyro

D Generation bassist and longtime New York rock personality Howie Pyro died yesterday (May 4) due to complications from COVID-19-related pneumonia, following a long struggle with liver disease that necessitated a transplant. The musician, whose real name was Howard Kusten, was 61. Pyro began playing in bands such as The Blessed as a teenager at storied New York venues such as CBGB’s and Max’s Kansas City. In the early ‘90s, he was a co-founding member of punk band D Generation, and later co-founded the beloved East Village rock club Coney Island High with bandmate Jesse Malin. Pyro was also a longtime DJ at New York parties such as Greendoor and hosted his own online radio show, Intoxica! Radio, where he played early rock’n’roll from the 1950s and ‘60s. Beyond his work in D Generation, he ...