R.I.P. Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, founding guitarist of Black Midi

Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, guitarist and co-founder of Black Midi, has died according to a post from the band’s label, Rough Trade. He was 26.

“Rough Trade Records would like to extend deepest sympathy to the Kwasniewski-Kelvin family who have shared this statement on the tragic passing of founding black midi member Matt – an incredibly talented person who will be truly missed,” the label’s Instagram post reads. “If you are struggling with mental health issues please reach out to your loved ones or one of the range of charities such as Mind, CALM and Samaritans who provide services and someone to talk to in any time of need.”

Kwasniewski-Kelvin met his bandmates Geordie Greep, Cameron Picton and Morgan Simpson as a teenager, while they were attending the performing arts school BRIT School. They played their first show in 2017 at the Windmill, becoming part of the British post-punk scene that became known as the “Windmill scene.”

Two years later, the group released their debut album, the widely acclaimed Schlagenheim, which earned the band a Mercury Prize nomination. Early in 2021, Kwasniewski-Kelvin announced he was taking a mental health break from the band, and though their sophomore album Cavalcade features some of his writing credits, he doesn’t appear on the album. The group released one more record before breaking up.

Kwasniewski-Kelvin also performed on Wu-Lu’s 2022 album Loggerhead, as well as releasing the song “Paedophile Ring [Free Palestine] [End the holocaust] [End the war now]” on Bandcamp in 2024.