Propelling to success with the band Steam‘s biggest hit turned iconic sports chant “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”, one singer has passed away after a health decline from cancer. It was confirmed by TMZ that Gary DeCarlo, age 75, died while in hospice care at a location in Connecticut. Battling lung cancer, the disease spread throughout his body and he later passed with his wife by his side.
Punk-rock band Steam rose to fame in 1969 when their song “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” topped the charts and continued on to become a staple chant throughout sporting events. The catchy tune is often sung in the direction of losing sports teams, encouraging them to head out of the stadium as they offer a sarcastic “goodbye”. Aside from its appearances during athletic events, the chant has also been featured in countless sports movies, including the passionate film Remember the Titans.
In 2014, DeCarlo released an album, Long Time Comin’, featuring an entirely new version of the band’s biggest hit while lending a new sound to the tune that sold over 6.5 million records by the kick off of the 21st century.
In 2016 DeCarlo sat down with AXS for an interview that gave fans an inside perspective on the singer’s successful song. Addressing the popular anthem, DeCarlos admitted, “The na na chant was not born until the night we went into the studio. The song was called ‘Kiss him Goodbye’ and it was a blues shuffle. Dale [Frashuer] and I were into that sound and Paul [Leka] was more into Motown and bubble gum. The title came up and it was written.”
We send our deepest thoughts and prayers to the family during this heartbreaking time.