TV on the Radio’s Gerard Smith Succumbs to Lung Cancer
Posted by Guy Keltner
Image via 123 People
The national music community suffered a painful loss this morning, when word broke that TV on the Radio bassist Gerard Smith passed away today. Smith was diagnosed with lung cancer just over a month ago, so his death seems to reverberate as somewhat of a sudden loss.
With the news of his cancer still fresh in TOTR fans’ minds, his death is not only an extreme tragedy, but represents the loss of a core member of one of the most artistically groundbreaking bands in contemporary music.
Smith joined TV on the Radio back in 2005, participating in the sessions for their third record, Return to Cookie Mountain. His membership in the band has played an integral role since then, and it will be a shame to see songs off their most recent record, Nine Types of Light, performed without him in the lineup.
The group has cancelled their next five gigs, in Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver. They will resume their tour in San Francisco on April 29th, undoubtedly on a somber and emotional note.
