Owen Leahy, a beloved musician and the heart of the emo band This is Pointless, tragically passed away on January 6, 2025, leaving a lasting impact on those who knew him and the underground music scene he cherished. Owen’s life story was one of triumphs, setbacks, and resilience, much like the raw emotion embedded in the music he created. He formed This is Pointless alongside his best friend, Rob, nearly a decade ago.
The band became a symbol of their shared love for DIY emo, a genre that celebrated authenticity, emotional expression, and the sense of community that came with it. From basement shows to intimate concerts, Owen thrived in the scene he held dear, never losing sight of the reasons he started making music in the first place: passion and connection. Their bond began long before the band, in the halls of an alternative high school designed for students struggling with substance abuse.
Owen and Rob met when they were just 16, a time when the foundation of their friendship and future musical partnership was set. The school provided a space where kids dealing with addiction and mental health challenges could find understanding and support. Owen, despite facing his own personal demons, became a beacon of hope for those around him. In early 2014, Owen made the life-changing decision to get sober.
After years of battling addiction, he entered a new phase of his life, becoming an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous. His journey through sobriety, however, was never easy. Addiction and mental health are lifelong struggles, and while Owen fought hard for 10 years, the weight of those battles eventually caught up with him in the fall of 2024, when he relapsed after a decade of sobriety. Still, Owen’s story is one of perseverance—of both success and failure—illustrating that the path to recovery is not always linear but one worth pursuing.
Owen’s love for the DIY scene, for the music, for the community, was unwavering. His passion extended beyond just playing in the band; it was the friendships, the camaraderie, and the shared experience of listening to music and creating art that filled him with purpose. Owen’s devotion to This is Pointless and the DIY emo scene was the backbone of his life, and through his music, he left behind a legacy of authenticity and raw emotion.
Though Owen has left us far too soon, his spirit and influence will continue to resonate in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. His story, marked by his struggles and triumphs, will forever be remembered in the music that gave him solace and in the community he so deeply cherished.
