TV on the Radio's Gerard Smith succumbs to lung cancer
TV on the Radio bassist Gerard Smith has died of lung cancer, the band announced on its official website Wednesday. He was 36.
"We are very sad to announce the death of our beloved friend and bandmate, Gerard Smith, following a courageous fight against lung cancer," the band's statement reads on an all-black homepage. "Gerard passed away the morning of April 20th, 2011. We will miss him terribly."
Smith had reportedly been undergoing treatment for lung cancer and was not able to join the band's U.S. tour in support of its latest album, "Nine Types of Light," released just last week.
"Gerard is fortunate enough to have health insurance and is receiving excellent medical care. Already we have seen dramatic results," the band wrote in a statement in March. "Combine that with Gerard's legendarily willful disposition and it might just be cancer that has the problem. We appreciate your concern and support for Gerard and his family."
The band’s heralded disc (we gave the album three and a half out of four stars) debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard charts released Wednesday.
In support of the album, TV on the Radio released a one-hour film featuring music videos for all the songs on the album spliced with interviews from New Yorkers, which you can watch below.
Smith joined the group full-time in 2005 before the release of 2006's “Return to Cookie Mountain.”
The band has now canceled all tour dates through Tuesday including stops in Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit and Denver and adds that there will be more information as it becomes available.
-- Gerrick D. Kennedy
Photo: Gerard Smith. Credit: Michael Lavine
sorry to read about his passing. these guys are off the charts creatively. like you, i appreciate their latest offering, too.
Posted by: JGregg | April 20, 2011 at 04:56 PM