Paul Cripple obit

Reagan Youth guitarist Paul Bakija has died

 

He was not on the list.

Reagan Youth guitarist Paul Bakija (aka Paul Cripple) has passed away after a long journey with cancer. The band broke the sad news, writing:

It’s a beautiful. it’s a beautiful it’s a beautiful-beautiful day!

Our beautiful friend, Paul, passed away on a beautiful afternoon, the last day of summer, after a long battle with cancer.

Paul was intensely stoic about his illness and rarely let on how much pain he was in.

He constantly apologized for causing his loved ones pain and wished us to enjoy life for him. The last thing Paul would have wanted was for us to cry for him.

We’re all going to miss him, miss his stories, miss his silly sense of humor, miss his smiles, and miss his friendship. We love you Paul. Thank you for everything.

Other bands have paid tribute, including the Dead Kennedys, who wrote, “RIP to Paul Bakija from Reagan Youth. We played some great shows together over the years. Most legendary was Rock Against Reagan and a triple bill of Dead Kennedys, Reagan Youth, and Beastie Boys.”

Agnostic Front’s Roger Miret wrote, “R.I.P. Paul. Thank you for bringing purpose into my life! I will forever dance to Youth Anthems For The New Order!”

Paul formed Reagan Youth with Dave Rubinstein (aka Dave Insurgent) while the two were attending Forest Hills High School. They lasted between 1980 and 1990, and in 1993, Dave took his own life. Paul reformed the band with various other members between 2006 and present day.

Watch a video of Reagan Youth in Tompkins Square in 1988 and see some more tributes below. Rest in peace, Paul.