The “Brother” that Nevermore/Sanctuary singer Warrel Dane wrote about on his 2008 solo effort, Praises To The War Machine, has passed away.

Dane wrote in Facebook: “My brother passed away today (May 4th), my sense of mortality has never seemed so strong. I had time to accept that my parents were close because we all knew but this was so sudden and I never got the chance to tell him I loved him but I'm trying to be strong.”

In BW&BK; #110, Warrel Dane spoke about Praises To The War Machine and the song “Brother”. 

"Yeah, the song you are referring to is incredibly personal. It was kind of a catharsis for me to get over some childhood issues. Something I wasn't able  to do with that subject in Nevermore for some reason. But the music just struck me when I first heard it. It's so brooding and depressing - but I live in Seattle, so I'm used to brooding and depressing as far as weather. And that's always channelled into lyrics and music for me. My real life brother is fucked up and he's dying of Stage IV Leukemia right now and he's disowned our family. He won't talk to any of us which is really sad. I feel sorry for my sisters because they had a really close relationship with him, but I never did. When I was a kid I didn't really understand why. He's got issues. At this point I've given up. I wrote a song and now I'm done with it."

“Brother” lyrics:

Brother you were never there for me

When the children needed peace you disgraced both families

Brother you were never there for me

When my father died I thought that you would take my hand

You said I was just too young

Sister I can tell you all the love I have for you

Our mother sleeps in silent peace because your love was pure

But brother you were never there for me

When my father died I thought that you would take my hand

You said I was just too young

If I could erase one moment of pain

I'd throw away everything, even fame

If I could play god do you know what I'd do?

I'd swim through your blood and kill the cancer in you

Brother you were never there for me

I was just too young, now I've grown and I can see

That brother you were never there for me

When my father died I thought that you would take my hand

You said I was just too young

If I could play god

I'd swim through your blood and kill the cancer in you

My brother