Former The Shins & The Arcs Member Richard Swift Dies, Aged 41

By Tom Williams

Richard Swift, a solo artist, producer and former member of The Shins and The Arcs, has died at the age of 41.

A post on Swift’s Facebook page has confirmed the musician died on Tuesday morning in Tacoma, Washington, after he was hospitalised for an undisclosed “serious medical condition”.

Swift was a multi-instrumentalist for The Shins between 2011 and 2016, and also toured as a bassist for The Black Keys between 2014 and 2015.

A GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign was launched in June to raise money for Swift’s medical bills, which at the time of writing has raised over $89,000.

In a statement, the campaign’s organiser Lindsay Behr said Swift died “while in hospice, his family near, his favourite records playing”.

“So much music came out of him,” she said.

“Music he gave to the artists he worked with. Music that supported. Music that challenged. Music that said, be better, we can be better.

“It was this insatiable pursuit of his own ability, his need for control and creation, that spilled into his personal life, a pursuit that sadly, tragically, swallowed him up.

“Those that knew him will remember his dangerously sharp wit, his nose for bullshit, the moments he’d drop the black-clad coolness and break into a goofy dance to make you laugh, his belief in loyalty, his funky hair, and his honest desire, in the whirl and fury of this world, to be good.

“He leaves his wife Shealynn, his children Madison, Adrian, and Kennedy, his Dad Enrique, his brothers Enrique, Jeff, Fernando, Kevin and Jonathan.

“Over the last month of his hospitalization and hospice care, the medical costs have been staggering and have put a great burden on his family. Your help—of any size—will make a difference.”

Paying tribute to Swift, The Black Keys and The Arcs’ Dan Auerbach said, “Today the world lost one of the most talented musicians I know. He’s now with his Mom and Sister. I will miss you my friend.”

Swift’s record label Secretly Canadian has also released a statement, which you can read below.

Tom Williams
Tom Williams

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