The Glands' Ross Shapiro Has Died

Founding member of the Athens, Ga. indie rock band dies following battle with illness

Ross Shapiro, founding member and frontman of the Glands (pictured second from right), has died, Flagpole reports. His cause of death is unknown. Friends of Shapiro's confirmed to Flagpole that he died after battling an illness.

The Glands released two albums—1997's Double Thriller and 2000's The Glands. In recent years, they played reunion shows in their hometown of Athens, Ga. Shapiro was also the owner of Schoolkids Records, a local record shop in Athens that closed in 2011. In 2014, Shapiro revealed that the Glands had been working on new music.

Listen to "Livin' Was Easy" from The Glands: