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Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, the co-founding guitarist of Black Midi<\/a> who performed on their debut album, Schlagenheim<\/em><\/a>, before leaving the group in 2021, has died, his family announced in a statement<\/a> via the band\u2019s label, Rough Trade<\/a>. His death followed \u201ca long battle with his mental health,\u201d according to the statement. He was 26 years old.<\/p>\n Kwasniewski-Kelvin took up guitar in primary school, quickly adopting a taste for skater-adjacent punk-pop. His father, who played in a party band, occasionally invited him to rehearsals, where Kwasniewski-Kelvin, then 12, would solo over the group\u2019s blues and pop jams. He met his future Black Midi bandmates\u2014Geordie Greep, Cameron Picton, and Morgan Simpson\u2014at the London performing arts institution the BRIT School, where Greep helped steer his classmate\u2019s tastes towards \u201charsh noise, drone music, Merzbow<\/a>,\u201d as Kwasniewski-Kelvin told Pitchfork<\/a> in 2019, two years after the band formed.<\/p>\n Feted for hectic shows at Brixton\u2019s Windmill<\/a> venue\u2014with Kwasniewski-Kelvin alternating delirious post-hardcore riffs with abstract, sometimes improvised noise\u2014the four-piece spearheaded the south London scene that launched a generation of British experimental rock, frequently sharing stages with the likes of Black Country, New Road<\/a>, Jerskin Fendrix<\/a>, and Shame<\/a>.<\/p>\n After signing to Rough Trade<\/a>, the band released Schlagenheim<\/em>, produced by Speedy Wunderground<\/a> honcho and scene shepherd Dan Carey, to rave reviews in 2019. They squeezed in major tours of North America and Europe before the coronavirus<\/a> pandemic, but when the band returned, with Cavalcade<\/em><\/a>, in early 2021, Kwasniewski-Kelvin was absent. \u201cI have been taking some time off from the band as I have been mentally unwell,\u201d he wrote, adding that he hoped to be back soon. At the time, the band said, \u201cWe\u2019re all fully behind our best mate in his recovery,\u201d and noted, \u201cyou\u2019d be surprised at the lengths people will go to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n After a third album, Hellfire<\/em><\/a>, the remaining Black Midi trio went its separate ways<\/a>\u2014\u201cindefinitely\u201d\u2014in 2024. In the meantime, Kwasniewski-Kelvin continued to play casually in London, including a guest appearance on Wu-Lu<\/a>\u2019s 2022 album Loggerhead<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n In its statement, the Kwasniewski-Kelvin family added, \u201cA talented musician and a kind, loving man finally succumbed; despite all efforts\u2026. Please take a moment to check in with your loved ones so we can stop this happening to our young men.\u201d<\/p>\n If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or know someone who is, we recommend these resources:<\/em><\/p>\n 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline<\/em>
https:\/\/988lifeline.org\/<\/em><\/a>
Call or text 988<\/em>
UK Samaritans: 116 123<\/em>
Denmark: 70 201 201<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n