A large cloud of sadness has covered over the hearts of the Vagrants. Drummer Joey Forgione passed away from a massive heart attack on October 20, 2003 while performing with friends onstage at the Downtime club in NYC.

Joey was a true musician, faithful to his art right down to the very last second of his life. Reliable sources say that Joey was playing better than he ever did that night and was able to complete the show. It happened on the band's final number "Addicted to Love", which was a tribute to the recently passed Robert Palmer. The song wrapped up with a barrage of frantic, high energy drum roles, as Joey would often do at the end of a show. He then rose to his feet, laughing on a cymbal choke to accept the accolades from a highly enthusiastic crowd, sitting back down again he gave that extra 110% to the show's finale. It was on a second cymbal choke that the song had ended, along with Joe's life.

Joey had nothing but love for his wife, family, friends and music. He embrassed life to the fullest, remained optimistic and always beat to his own drum. His departure from this world occured in true storybook fashion. We should all be as fortunate to leave this mortal coil doing something we truly love and be appreciated for it, right down to the very end.