Only a month after announcing that he was taking time off from the band to get treatment for lung cancer, TV on the Radio bassist Gerard Smith passed away today, according to a statement on TVOTR’s official website. He was 34.
“We are very sad to announce the death of our beloved friend and bandmate, Gerard Smith, following a courageous fight against lung cancer,” the announcement read. “Gerard passed away the morning of April 20th, 2011. We will miss him terribly. There will be more information as it becomes available.”
The band has canceled the next five shows on its current tour to support of their extremely well-received fourth album Nine Types of Light, which debuted at no. 12 on today’s Billboard charts. Smith joined the group full-time in 2005, just in time to record their breakout Return to Cookie Mountain, and his diagnosis was announced shortly after the completion of Light.
Smith was a quiet guy who was passionate about music and brought a sturdy dynamism to one of indie rock’s most exciting, thought-provoking collectives. TV on the Radio is a geniuses-only club, and Smith’s absence—both as a musician and as an all-around good guy—will be deeply felt among the remaining members.
For a sample of Smith’s excellent work, check out the video for “The Golden Age” (which appeared on the band’s 2008 album Dear Science). Smith lends the track a deceptively sinister low end and also wears those spirit animals awfully well:
More on EW.com:
TV on the Radio bassist Gerard Smith diagnosed with lung cancer, takes leave from upcoming tour
Review: TV on the Radio, Nine Types of Light
Damn. My condolences to his friends, family and bandmates. I was always in awe of his skill which really shined in their live show. He’ll be missed.
How shocking and devastating. My thoughts go to all those who knew him, but what a contribution he managed to make in his short life in those 3 fabulous TVOTR albums. He’ll certainly never be forgotten.
What a loss to the music world, and the world in general. Your sounds will echo eternally in the consciousness of millions… Nine Types of Light – wow, just released and it hits with a whole new meaning now.
Rest in peace, you were loved.
The word is “died”.
It’s a terrible thing to die so young.
Can we please retire the phrase “loses [his/her] battle with cancer”? It casts the person with cancer as a loser at the end of his/her life. It makes as much sense as saying that someone who drops dead of a heart attack at age 80 “lost their battle with life.” As if cancer is something that can be beaten if you’re strong or aggressive enough and not a disease that kills in an arbitrary way (treatment working for some people who go into remission and not for others). I lost my father to cancer much too young after he spent 10 years trying to rid himself of it and extend his life. He didn’t lose a battle with cancer in the end. He beat it back for 10 years and lived years longer than any doctor thought he would when he was first diagnosed. I’m sure Gerard Smith similarly did everything he could to treat his cancer and hoped those treatments would give him more time. I suspect that casting him as a loser in some epic battle doesn’t do the man justice.
this is just heartbreaking. my heart and thoughts go out to gerard’s family and friends. sometimes, this world is not enough
I don’t mean to nitpick on such a sad story, but that’s not Gerard wearing antlers in that video. He’s on the far right wearing the tiger-ish head.
What a loss. Terribly sorry to hear this. No doubt he’ll be missed by those who knew him as a friend and as a great musician.
Damn, this is such a huge loss. I’ll always be a huge fan of TV on the Radio, it just sucks that he won’t be a part of it anymore. RIP man. I’ll be blasting Return to Cookie Mountain tonight in his honor.
Rest in peace
Truly devestating news. Much too young. RIP.
So sad.
Very sad.
Wow. My condolences to his friends and family. I am a fan and I hope those who love him realize what an influence he had. RIP.