Dave Shapiro, Influential Music Executive and Pilot, Dies in San Diego Plane Crash at 42

Dave Shapiro, a pioneering figure in the heavy metal and hard rock music scene, tragically died in a plane crash in San Diego at the age of 42. The crash, which occurred on Thursday morning, also claimed the lives of two employees, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Shapiro, who held a pilot’s license and owned the aircraft involved, co-founded Sound Talent Group in 2018 alongside Tim Borror and Matt Andersen. The agency quickly gained a reputation for representing some of the most popular alternative bands across genres like pop-punk, metalcore, and post-hardcore. Their client list included well-known acts such as Hanson, Pierce The Veil, Parkway Drive, Sum 41, and Vanessa Carlton.

Sound Talent Group expressed deep sorrow in a statement:
“We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues, and friends.”

Known as a passionate advocate for independent musicians, Shapiro also co-founded the National Independent Talent Organization. His impact on the music industry was recognized early on, earning him a spot on Billboard’s 2012 “30 Under 30” list of rising entertainment stars. Industry insiders credit Shapiro with opening doors for independent agencies and helping alternative bands break into the mainstream.

In a 2021 podcast, Shapiro shared his philosophy on work and passion:
“Finding something you love to do is only going to make you do a better job because you actually care. You’re not just showing up for the paycheck, it’s not a 9-to-5. This is part of living your life if you really love it.”

Shapiro’s roots were firmly planted in the “straightedge hard-core” scene of upstate New York—a subculture that promotes a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle as a response to mainstream punk. He began his music journey in high school, forming a band that signed with Victory Records shortly after graduation. Touring and industry connections from those early years paved the way for his successful career on the business side of music.

Besides music, Shapiro was deeply passionate about flying. He took his first introductory flight at 22 and quickly became hooked. At one point, he even opened an office for his talent agency inside a hangar in San Diego.

Flying offered Shapiro a form of escape and focus:
“Flying helps me focus and helps me not be distracted by all the nonsense in the world, and whatever’s going on outside the plane kind of doesn’t matter in those moments,” he said in a 2020 interview.

Shapiro owned Velocity Aviation, a flight school, as well as Velocity Records. He frequently offered flights in both San Diego and Homer, Alaska, where he and his wife, Julia Pawlik Shapiro, had a home.

The couple married in 2016 in a uniquely adventurous ceremony in Talkeetna, Alaska. They secured their wedding licenses, flew to a glacier inside Denali National Park, and landed their plane on skis for the ceremony. Julia later reflected on their bond, writing that their shared love of adventure and unconventional lifestyles brought them together instantly.

In 2019, Shapiro proudly announced earning his airline transport pilot rating—the highest pilot certification in the U.S.—and he continued to challenge himself as an adrenaline junkie, enjoying base-jumping.

The music community quickly mourned Shapiro’s passing, with many remembering him as warm, genuine, and fiercely supportive of emerging artists.

Dayna Ghiraldi-Travers, founder of Big Picture Media, said,
“He would listen to any band you put in front of him to give them a chance.”

Nate Blasdell, former lead guitarist of I Set My Friends on Fire, shared his heartbreak on social media:
“Dave was the first booking agent I ever worked with and he was a major part of my music career in my late teen years. He was truly the best in the game and one of the most respected people in the industry.”

Sum 41’s lead singer Deryck Whibley credited Shapiro with helping revive the band during a difficult period:
“His opinion mattered so much to me. He was that guy I would go to for advice on things.”

Just months before his death, Shapiro had flown his new plane to witness Sum 41’s induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. He promised Whibley they would fly together again soon.

“He said, ‘Me and my wife, we’re going to fly to you. We’re going to pick you up and we’re going to go somewhere crazy for lunch,’” Whibley recalled.

Dave Shapiro’s legacy lives on through the countless artists he championed, the music community he helped shape, and the passion he brought to both his work and his flying adventures.