Bo Lueders, founding guitarist of Chicago metallic hardcore act HARM'S WAY and co-host of the acclaimed HardLore podcast, has died. He was 38 years old. The news was announced on April 2, 2026, via a joint statement from HARM'S WAY and HardLore.
HARM'S WAY was formed in 2006 as a side project before evolving into a full-time outfit. Over nearly two decades, the band released seven studio albums, with the most recent being Common Suffering (Metal Blade Records, 2023). The group had been actively touring, most recently opening for KNOCKED LOOSE and DEAFHEAVEN in 2025, with a European tour scheduled to begin in June 2026.
Beyond his work with HARM'S WAY, Lueders co-hosted the HardLore podcast alongside Colin Young of TWITCHING TONGUES. Launched in 2022, the show grew from road stories shared by touring musicians into a wide-ranging platform featuring interviews with artists, wrestlers, and hardcore figures. In 2024, HardLore also expanded into a record label.
In their statement, the band wrote: "He will be remembered for his unwavering empathy and compassion for his friends and family and his magnetic, inimitable presence on and off the stage." They requested grace and privacy for those close to him during this time.
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