Fans Gather to Honor Donnie Iris in Pittsburgh
Hundreds attended a memorial for the Pittsburgh rock singer at Citizens Live at the Wylie two weeks after his death.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Cultural
Hundreds of fans and friends held a memorial for Donnie Iris at Citizens Live at the Wylie in the Lower Hill. The gathering came about two weeks after the singer died at age 83.
Why it matters
The memorial marks a public farewell to one of Pittsburgh's best-known musicians, whose local following spans decades. It also brings together friends and collaborators who worked with him over many years.
The memorial lasted about 80 minutes, roughly two weeks after Iris died at age 83. Iris and Mark Avsec, his longest creative collaborator, have worked together for 35 years, according to the extraction.
The players
Donnie Iris
Pittsburgh rock singer and frontman of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, known for decades of local and regional hits.
Mark Avsec
Longtime creative collaborator of Donnie Iris who issued a statement on the plan for a statue honoring the singer.
Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor
Mayor of Pittsburgh who spoke at the memorial honoring Iris.
The details
Iris's classic songs played over the PA while a slide show of photographs rotated on a screen behind the stage. Randy Baumann of 102.5 WDVE Morning Show hosted, and several members of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers spoke at the podium.
Timeline
Sept. 28: Iris performed his last live show at Citizens Live at the Wylie.
Two weeks before the memorial: Iris died.
November 9, 2026: The memorial was held at Citizens Live at the Wylie.
Legacy Context
The planned statue for Iris follows the pattern of commemorating a regional musician through a permanent public work after a farewell event. Such honors often move from a memorial gathering to a lasting civic monument over time.
Fans who want to remember Iris can attend future local tributes at Citizens Live at the Wylie, where he last performed. The proposed statue plan, which a committee has begun to develop, may offer a public place for residents to gather.
The takeaway
Iris's memorial shows how a city can gather in person to mark the loss of a longtime local performer. Fans can keep his music close by revisiting his recorded catalog.
Further reading
Explore more Pittsburgh cultural coverage to see how the city honors its musicians.
