Rowland S Howard has passed away, aged 50.

 

The Melbourne musician, who cancelled recent shows due to illness, died from liver cancer while waiting for a transplant.

 

In a recent interview, Howard told Rolling Stone magazine: "Being told that you've only got a couple of years to live without a transplant is a pretty frightening experience and certainly changes the way you feel about your life, makes things so much closer."

 

Howard used to be a member of Nick Cave's Aussie punk band The Boys Next Door and later wrote their hit 'Shivers' when they became The Birthday Party.

 

The guitarist was later a member of bands such as Crime and the City Solution and These Immortal Souls.

 

Birthday Party - Hamlet (Pow Pow Pow)

 

These Immortal Souls - Marry Me

Oh dear. The man was a legend. His stuff with the Birthday Party was groundbreaking and his collaboration with Lydia Lunch was fantastic. He'll be sorely missed by many I'm sure.

 

Although i must correct the above quote - Shivers was released before Boys Next Door became Birthday Party and remains a post punk classic.

 

Although i must correct the above quote - Shivers was released before Boys Next Door became Birthday Party and remains a post punk classic.

 

That shows me up for not reading quotes before posting them!

 

The man was a true legend.