British rocker Nikki Sudden, of influential seventies indie band Swell Maps, has died at the age of 49. The musician died suddenly on Sunday following a gig at New York venue the Knitting Factory the previous evening. No cause of death has been recorded as yet.
Sudden, real name Nicholas Godfrey, formed Swell Maps in the late seventies with his brother, Epic Soundtracks, real name Kevin Godfrey, who predeceased him due to unknown causes in 1997. In 1990, he worked with REM's Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry on 'The Jewel Thief,' later reissued as 'Liquor, Guns & Ammo'. The prolific frontman had recently completed a new solo album, 'The Truth Doesn't Matter,' and, according to Chris Swanson, head of Sudden's label Secretly Canadian, close to completing an autobiography entitled 'The Last Bandit.' He was also due to appear at a gig in London tonight with his band the Jacobites, a performance which will apparently go ahead as planned as a memorial event.
Secretly Canadian said in a statement: "It was a great honour to work with such a legendary figure, and his warmth and generosity of spirit will not be forgotten. He was a good man in endless pursuit of his artistic dreams. We extend our deepest sympathies to his friends and family."