The News Of …

‘TV On The Radio’ bass player Gerard Smith died on Wednesday at the age of 36, after suffering from lung cancer.
The musician’s illness was first made public five weeks ago, after the band had finished recording new album ‘Nine Types of Light’.
A message posted on the band’s website said – “We are very sad to announce the death of our beloved friend and bandmate, Gerard Smith, following a courageous fight against lung cancer.
“We will miss him terribly.”
When the news of his illness was announced the band said Smith had health insurance, great medical care and had already seen ‘dramatic results.’
However, he was unable to join the band on tour to promote their recent album.
Smith joined the ‘TV On The Radio’ in 2005 and contributed to previous albums Return to Cookie Mountain and Dear Science.

Gerard Smith.

‘TV on the Radio’ canceled five upcoming tour shows – in Detroit, Chicago, Denver and Minneapolis – for of its new album, ‘Nine Types of Light,’ which reached number 12 on this week’s Billboard charts.
The band announced on its website in March that Smith was taking time off to be treated for cancer.
“Gerard is fortunate enough to have health insurance and is receiving excellent medical care” – the announcement read. “Already we have seen dramatic results. 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.”
Smith joined the Brooklyn-based band in 2005, and he contributed to its two acclaimed albums ‘Return to Cookie Mountain,’ in 2006 and ‘Dear Science’ in 2008, which Rolling Stone magazine named Album of the Year.

Following the passing of their ‘beloved friend and bandmate’ Gerard Smith, rock band ‘TV on the Radio’ scrapped five dates of their on-going North American tour. The first canceled gig is the one which was supposed to take place at St. Andrew Halls, Detroit MI on April 20.
They also dropped a show at Metro, Chicago IL on April 22, two concerts at First Ave, Minneapolis MN on April 23 and 24, as well as one gig at Ogden, Denver CO on April 26. They are expected to be back on the road on April 29 in San Fransisco CA, but it’s not confirmed just yet as ‘there will be more information as it becomes available.’
Gerard Smith played bass and keyboard in ‘TV on the Radio’. He died on Wednesday morning after losing ‘a courageous fight against lung cancer.’ The band announced the sad news in a joint statement on their official website, saying in deep grief: ‘We will miss him terribly.’
‘TV on the Radio’ have just released their fifth studio album ‘Nine Types of Light’ in the U.S. on April 12 this year, peaking at No. 12 on Billboard Hot 200. They followed up the album release with a number of tour dates including a confirmed date at Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, GBR on June 26.