Hamish Kilgour has left music and this world.
Representatives for the band the Clean acknowledged the death of Hamish Kilgour, the drummer, singer, and composer who co-founded the group with his brother, the guitarist David Kilgour.
Since November 27, the musician has been reported missing. No cause of death has been made public. The age of Hamish Kilgour was 65.
The Clean's American record company, Merge Records, stated to Pitchfork, “With very heavy hearts, we can confirm that Hamish Kilgour has passed away in his home country of New Zealand.”
“As a founding member of the Clean, with his brother, David, and Robert Scott, Hamish produced one of the most important and timeless bodies of work in rock music. As a drummer, Hamish had a propulsive, instantly recognizable style and an understated power; he was a joy to watch play. Hamish was one of the most colorful and creative musicians we have been lucky to work with, both as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter with the group he started with Lisa Siegel, the Mad Scene, and, of course, with the Clean. Hamish was also an accomplished visual artist, and his fantastical drawings adorn many record sleeves.”
The statement further read, “We feel lucky to have known him. Our thoughts are with his family and his fellow members of the New Zealand music community. Safe travels, Hamish.”
The Clean, influential in the early years of indie rock and indie pop, was founded in Dunedin in 1978.
Only 18 months into their initial iteration, the band developed an on-again, off-again pattern that would remain throughout their unconventional career.