Founding member of Argy Bargy and original drummer Dustin Burgess passed away suddenly, leaving his family heartbroken and facing funeral costs they simply cannot manage alone. We’re reaching out to our worldwide punk family to help with whatever you can so he gets the send off he deserves.

Dustin was a long term Type 1 diabetic and his health had deteriorated to the point that he lost his leg a couple of years ago, absolutely devastating for a drummer. More recently he was diagnosed with cancer, and the chemo destroyed his immune system. When sepsis took hold, he just didn’t stand a chance. Because of his medical conditions, he was unable to get any form of life or health insurance, leaving an uphill struggle for his wife AnnMarie and son Thomas.

We’re asking for your help to raise enough for the funeral and, if possible, to go beyond that so the family can get through the next few months with some of the pressure lifted, covering bills and giving them space to navigate this shocking change.

Watford Jon met Dustin when they were 17. They worked together and, through a shared love of punk, Oi and ska with influences ranging from Motörhead and The Wildhearts to Rose Tattoo, 4 Skins and a healthy dose of Madness, they started Argy Bargy in 1992. Daryl joined not long after and took Dustin on a musical journey that saw him drumming on two albums with The Warriors and one with Nice & Easy. But it was Dustin’s love of ska that saw his busiest period when he was the drummer for Mistakes, playing twice a week, every week.

Dustin was always in demand, the go to drummer for our scene. Chances are, if you were at a gig back then, you saw him play. He deputised for loads of bands including The Business, always helping out wherever he could.

After getting married and becoming a devoted family man, his touring days were replaced with more local gigs. He played in numerous covers bands, doing what he loved most, playing punk and ska. So whether you’re an Argy Bargy, Warriors or Mistakes fan, or you saw Dustin with The Start, P45, Scam 69, Toot n Skamen or any other band lucky enough to have him, we ask you to do whatever you can to help his family at this time.

Love & Thanks,

ARGY BARGY

*UPDATE - Funeral info:

The funeral will be on Monday 16th March at 1pm at Thames View Crematorium, Gravesend Rd, Shorne, Gravesend DA12 3JH

And afterwards at Dartford Cricket Club, Pilgrims Way, Dartford DA1 1ZQ