Producer and musician Richard Swift, who performed with the Shins and the Black Keys, has died, bandmate Dan Auerbach confirmed on Instagram. Swift was 41.
“Today the world lost one of the most talented musicians I know,” Auerbach captioned a picture of him and Swift. “He’s now with his Mom and Sister. I will miss you my friend.”
A post on a Facebook page attributed to Swift also announced his death, adding “And all the angels sing ‘Que Sera Sera.'” A post to the same page the Monday after his death, attributed to Swift’s family and management, said that Swift’s “alcohol addiction … ultimately took his life.” Though Swift had sought treatment, his “body gave out before he could overcome the disease,” his family wrote. Furthermore, the musician was diagnosed with hepatitis and liver and kidney distress in June, they added, saying that despite medical attention at multiple hospitals, his body was unable to recover and was moved to hospice care.
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It was revealed last month that Swift, who was the touring bassist for the Black Keys in 2014 and played drums in Auerbach’s other band the Arcs, was hospitalized due to a “serious medical condition,” with a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for his medical bills.
Pitchfork previously reported the news of Swift’s death, writing that he died Tuesday morning in Tacoma, Washington, a rep confirmed to the music website. The Associated Press later reported the same, citing a rep for Swift. The Monday Facebook post confirms the time and location of Swift’s death, adding that he was in a hospice facility and is survived by “his wife Shealynn and their three children Madison, Adrian & Kennedy.”
His family adds that Swift was working on new music, expected to be released in November, which his family hopes to share with fans “sooner than that.”
Swift also collaborated with and produced music for Guster, Ray LaMontagne, Tennis and Sharon Van Etten, among other artists.
July 10, 1:41 p.m. This story has been updated with an additional post from Swift’s family explaining the circumstances surrounding his death.
