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Andrew Weatherall death: Primal Scream producer and acclaimed DJ dies aged 56

Weatherall died ‘swiftly and peacefully’, his management said in a statement

Adam White
Monday 17 February 2020 10:10 EST
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DJ Andrew Weatherall dies aged 56

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Andrew Weatherall, the British DJ and musician, has died at the age of 56.

His management confirmed that Weatherall suffered a pulmonary embolism today (17 February), and died at Whipps Cross Hospital, London.

A statement described Weatherall’s death as “swift and peaceful”.

A key figure in the acid house movement of the Eighties and Nineties, having once been resident DJ of the pioneering nightclub Shoom, Weatherall was best known for his production work on Primal Scream’s 1991 album Screamadelica. He is widely recognised as one of the leading innovators of electronic music in the UK, and continued to work as a DJ until his death.

In the aftermath of Screamadelica, Weatherall would go on to produce records for acts such as Beth Orton and One Dove, and remix artists including Bjork, New Order, My Bloody Valentine and Siouxsie Sioux. He would also manage record labels, produce and remix across genres under an array of pseudonyms, and work as a music journalist and artist.

On Twitter, Tim Burgess of The Charlatans wrote: “Shocked and saddened to hear that cosmic traveller Andrew Weatherall has left the building.”

Guitarist Stuart Braithwaite, of Mogwai, tweeted: “His influence on music was incredible and he never stopped pushing forward when it’d have been easier to rest on his laurels. Most importantly though, he was a great person. Rest in peace.”

“His family and friends are profoundly saddened by his death and are taking time to gather their thoughts,” Weatherall’s spokesperson said. “Further announcements regarding funeral arrangements will be made in due course.

“Management and family have asked to have their privacy respected at this time.”

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