Joey Mazzone, a musician who appeared on The X Factor as a teenager, has died aged 27 after a decade-long battle with chronic illness. He passed away on Friday, August 7, following years of severe pain and complex health conditions.
Early career and final wish
Mazzone auditioned for The X Factor at the age of 13. He later became guitarist and lead singer of the Las Vegas blues-rock group True Grit, which he helped found in 2020.
His obituary revealed that his final request was "for everyone to listen to his music, especially on Spotify." In tribute, copies of the band's upcoming record Bitten By A Snake, scheduled for release in October, will be distributed free of charge "as long as supplies last."
Decade of relentless pain
The memorial stated: "On July 24, 2016, at only 17 years old, Joey developed the sudden onset of continuous, unremitting head pain that would never go away." He was eventually diagnosed with New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH), a neurological disorder with no FDA-approved treatments, leaving patients reliant on trial and error.
The statement continued: "'Headache' hardly seems strong enough to describe the relentless pain and pressure Joey experienced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It marked the beginning of nearly a decade of complex illness and relentless pain. By the time of Joey's death, he had endured approximately 87,972 consecutive hours without freedom from that pain."
Multiple diagnoses and band tribute
Over the years, Mazzone faced diagnoses including gastroparesis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, POTS/dysautonomia, autonomic failure, autoimmune encephalitis, ME/CFS, tethered cord, cranial instability, increased intracranial pressure, and several vascular compressions.
True Grit posted on Instagram: "Today, Joey Mazzone's suffering ended after a 10-year-long battle with chronic illness. Anyone who met Joey knew he was always trying to help others... Having to drop out of high school and finish online instantly changed the trajectory of where his life was going." The band added that he learned to "push" through pain and relied on mental strength, concluding: "Even though he might not be here, his music still lives on."
