Steve Hansgen, Onetime Minor Threat Bassist And Tool Producer, Diagnosed With Stage 4 Kidney Disease

Veteran musician Steve Hansgen, known for his bass work with Minor Threat and co-production on Tool’s Opiate EP, is battling stage 4 kidney disease. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the Washington D.C. musician, who also played with Government Issue and Poisonous H. Despite recent health improvements, including the reversal of Type 2 diabetes, Hansgen’s kidney function has significantly declined, and he awaits a potential donor. “Bummer to have to post this but as some of you may already know, @steviehansgen needs a kidney transplant,” writes Hansgen’s girlfriend and Poisonous H bandmate, Holly. “He recently spent several weeks in the hospital and unfortunately is on dialysis 3 times a week now until a kidney donor can be found.” Hansgen notably played bass on Minor Threat’s groundbreaking 1983 EP, Out of Step, before exiting the group a year later. In the 1990s he worked as a producer and engineer, famously co-producing and co-engineering Tool’s 1992 Opiate EP with Sylvia Massy. (Consequence of Sound)