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

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Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, one of the original guitarists for the popular London post-punk band Black Midi, has passed away at the age of 26.

The family of guitarist Matthew Kwasniewski-Kelvin announced with great sadness that he has passed away after a long struggle with mental health issues. The band’s label, Rough Trade, shared the news on Monday, describing him as a gifted musician and a kind, loving person who ultimately lost his battle despite receiving support.

Kwasniewski-Kelvin formed the band Black Midi with classmates he met at the BRIT School in London. They became part of a vibrant scene of experimental bands – including Black Country, New Road, Shame, and Squid – who played together at the Windmill, a venue in Brixton, and explored sounds ranging from noise and free jazz to textured art-rock.

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The band quickly gained a reputation for energetic live shows and the innovative guitar work of Kwasniewski-Kelvin. Their first album, “Schlagenheim,” released in 2019, was a standout release in their music scene and even received a nomination for the Mercury Prize. They weren’t afraid to experiment with different sounds, incorporating spoken word, a radio play, and even covers of artists like Bruce Springsteen and traditional Christmas songs into their recordings and performances.

In 2021, Kwasniewski-Kelvin took a break from the band to focus on his mental health and didn’t play on their album, “Cavalcade,” though he did help write some of the songs. The band released one final album, “Hellfire,” in 2022, before ultimately disbanding.

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

The family shared that he will be deeply missed. They also asked everyone to reach out to their loved ones and support each other, hoping to prevent similar tragedies from happening to other young men.

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2026-01-13 00:31