The band’s singer Ronnie Radke shared the news on social media with a heartfelt tribute to Jones. On his Instagram, the singer wrote: “I’ll never forget when you picked me up from jail In your old tour van to start Falling in Reverse.
“Your spirit will be interwoven through the music I write forever,” he wrote. “Rest In Peace Derek Jones. My heart is broken.”
A post shared by Ronnie Radke (@ronnieradke) on Apr 21, 2020 at 4:15pm PDT
The Las Vegas-based band formed in 2008, with Jones joining formally in 2010, according to Spin. The guitarist performed on all four of the band’s albums.
Newsweek has contacted the band’s management Fly South Music Group for more information on the guitarist’s death.
Jones’ death comes just over five months after he lost his fiancée to cancer. Christina Cetta passed away from metastatic cancer in November 2019, with her family announcing her death on a GoFundMe page set up by Jones.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share that Christina has lost her battle with cancer,” the announcement says. “The family would like to thank everyone for the tremendous generosity and outpouring of love shown to Christina. Our only peace comes from knowing she is now free from pain and suffering.”
Cetta was diagnosed with metastatic cancer after previously suffering from cervical cancer three years prior, according to the GoFundMe page. Jones set up the page to help cover medical costs, and wrote: “She is my life and the best thing to ever happen to me. We’ve been together 10 years and I’m looking forward to 100 more together.” The page raised just under $50,000 at the time of reporting.
A post shared by Christina Cetta⨠(@thestinamarink) on Jun 5, 2019 at 8:41am PDT
Members of Falling in Reverse rallied around Jones, with bandmate Radke, later launching the “Stina Benefit Tee,” with all of the proceeds going toward Cetta’s cancer treatment.
However, complications arose in November 2019, which saw Cetta hospitalized for fluid in her lungs, which resulted in the band calling off its “Episode IV” tour. In a statement issued at the time, Radke says: “I can’t believe I’m even typing this. Derek’s fiancée Stina’s cancer has hospitalized her recently due to fluid in the lungs. While in the hospital matters have gotten worse and she has been moved to the ICU. Unfortunately we will have to cancel the ‘Episode IV’ tour.
“However, Derek and I discussed it and agreed that we are going to try and play Australia. It does not seem right in my heart to tour knowing of her condition as Derek has to be with her to help her fight through this. I’m sorry to the fans, Crown The Empire and Tom MacDonald. I will make it up to you somehow.”
A post shared by Christina Cetta⨠(@thestinamarink) on Oct 12, 2019 at 6:10pm PDT
Following her death, Jones posted on his Instagram how much he missed his fiancée on December 19, writing: “I miss you beyond belief you were my best friend and everything more…”
A post shared by Derek Jones (@derekfir) on Dec 19, 2019 at 12:54am PST
