Gretna Van Fleet, Namesake of Greta Van Fleet, Dead at 95

Gretna Van Fleet, the woman whose name was borrowed and reshaped into one of the most recognizable rock bands of the last decade, died on Monday, May 18th. She was 95.

The connection came through happenstance. Original Greta Van Fleet drummer Kyle Hauck once mentioned that his grandfather was dropping him off to cut wood for Gretna Van Fleet. Frontman Josh Kiszka seized on the name immediately, though he insisted on removing the “n” from Gretna. The woman herself gave her blessing, later joking to The Saginaw News in 2019 that the band probably made sure she wasn’t on some most-wanted list before committing.

What gets lost in the trivia is that Gretna Van Fleet was a musician herself. Over the course of her life she played drums, tuba, cornet, saxophone, standup bass, violin, dulcimer, psaltery, organ and piano. In her twenties she formed a band called the Allenaires with her brothers. Three-fourths of Greta Van Fleet, of course, are brothers.

She was also a founding member of the Bag Ladies at her local church, a group that sewed and mended garments for community members and soldiers.

The news arrives just as Greta Van Fleet prepare for their first show in nearly two years. The band announced a comeback performance at the Bowery Ballroom in New York, set for May 27th. Tickets go on sale May 26th, available only at the box office. Their last performance was on September 29th, 2024.

Before the sold-out rooms and the festival stages, the name was just a name. Gretna Van Fleet wore it quietly for 95 years.