Jeremy Inkel on-stage
with Front Line Assembly
The world of
electronic industrial music has been saddened to learn
of the sudden recent death of
Canadian keyboard
player and programmer Jeremy Inkel due to complications arising
from an asthma condition. He was only 34 years old. Best
known for his involvement in the most recent albums by the veteran act
Front Line Assembly, he was also the co-founder of Left
Spine Down (LSD) and produced tracks for various other
well known musicians.
Based in Vancouver, he
was welcomed into Front Line Assembly in 2005, co-writing and
producing
the album ‘Artificial
Soldier’ that was released the following year. He also
toured with the band,
including
festival appearances at the likes of Mera Luna, Summer
Darkness and Amphi Festival
and the band’s first
ever appearances in Russia. He continued working with FLA
on their ensuing
albums ‘Improvised
Electronic Device’, ‘Airmech’ (a video game
soundtrack) and ‘Echogenetic’.
Jeremy’s involvement
with FLA (plus their frontman Bill Leeb's side-project Noise Unit)
provided him with the opportunity to present his ‘other’ band to
a wider public, with the result that Left Spine Down toured
with the likes of Revolting Cocks, The Birthday Massacre,
Genitorturers and oHGr, plus a large scale North American
trek with 16volt and Chemlab in 2010. Blending elements
of industrial,punk and alternative rock into a sound that
was catchy yet abrasive, melodic yet fist-pumping,
with detailed electronica-style programming and a ‘fuck you’ punk
attitude, Jeremy had formed LSD with frontman Kaine Delay.
The duo’s final album, ‘Caution’, was released
soon after the group had signed with Metropolis
Records.
Jeremy Inkel (centre)
on the FLA tour bus with Bill Leeb (l) and Rhys Fulber (r)
Bill Leeb of Front Line
Assembly has this to say of Jeremy :
“I am truly shocked, heartbroken and saddened beyond belief. Jeremy’s animated larger than life personality will be truly missed. Everyone who met him walked away saying that he was one of the nicest people they had ever met. His creativity will also be sorely missed. He had a huge passion for for music, film and a love of performing. We had recently started creating ideas for a new FLA album,while he also participated on our upcoming ‘Airmech 2’ release, which we are dedicating to hismemory. Rest easy….there will always be a place for you with us.”
Metropolis Records have
stated that :
“We are stunned and saddened to learn of Jeremy's sudden death. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to his family, bandmates and friends. His family requests that anyone wishing to make a gesture in his memory to please make a cash donation at your local food bank. They also request that we all please remember Jeremy for the kind, funny, soulful and talented person that he was."