Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, guitarist for Black Midi, dead at 26

Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, a founding guitarist of the acclaimed London post-punk set Black Midi, has died. He was 26.

In connection from the guitarist’s family, posted by band’s statement Rough Trade connected Monday, they said, “It is with heavy sadness that we arsenic a household regret to pass you that Matthew Kwasniewski-Kelvin has died aft a agelong conflict with his intelligence health. A talented instrumentalist and a kind, loving young antheral yet succumbed; contempt each efforts.”

Kwasniewski-Kelvin met his Black Midi bandmates arsenic a teen astatine the London performing arts academy BRIT School. The set performed alongside a escaped unit of like-minded acts similar Black Country, New Road, Shame and Squid who were experimenting with noise, escaped jazz and textured art-rock, centered astir the Brixton venue the Windmill.

Known for its live-wire performances and Kwasniewski-Kelvin’s avant-garde attack to guitar, the band’s 2019 debut LP “Schlagenheim” was a defining connection from their country and shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. They took an omnivorous attack to recording, performing spoken-word jams and a vigor play and covering Bruce Springsteen and Christmas standards.

Kwasniewski-Kelvin announced a hiatus from the radical for intelligence wellness reasons successful 2021, and did not execute connected its 2021 follow-up LP “Cavalcade,” though helium did co-write immoderate songs. The set released 1 much album, 2022’s “Hellfire,” earlier parting ways.

In 2024, Kwasniewski-Kelvin released a solo single, “Paedophile Ring [Free Palestine] [End the holocaust] [End the warfare now],”on Bandcamp.

“He volition ever beryllium loved,” the family’s connection continued. “Please instrumentality a infinitesimal cheque successful with your emotion ones truthful we tin halt this happening to our young men.”