Leading names in music pay tribute to Andrew Weatherall

There is no shortage of plaudits that can be applied to legendary DJ and producer Andrew Weatherall, who passed away on Monday at the age of just 56 – his was a visionary talent that melded countless musical movements over a 30-plus year career.

Announcing his passing earlier today, Weatherall’s own Rotters Golf Club imprint, said that he passed away at Whipps Cross Hospital, London, while receiving treatment for a pulmonary embolism.

“His death was swift and peaceful,” the statement read. “His family and friends are profoundly saddened by his death and are taking time to gather their thoughts.”

Following the news, some the biggest names in electronic music, art and literature, including those that worked closely with Weatherall over the years, have taken to social media to pay tribute to the great man.

As Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh put it, “Absolutely distraught to hear this terrible news. Andrew was a longtime friend, collaborator and one of most talented persons I’ve known. Also one of the nicest. Genius is an overworked term but I’m struggling to think of anything else that defines him.”

Musician and journalist John Robb paid tribute to Weatherall on his Louder Than War blog, describing him as the “greatest DJ we have been in a room with, with every set an adventure from rockabilly to dub to hard techno”.

Peter Hook of New Order, which had Weatherall remix several of their tracks, including World in Motion and Regret, described him as a “truly nice, kind man who shared many, many words of wisdom”.

Drum and bass producer Fabio said that Weatherall was a “real genius that stood out from the crowd”, adding that he was a “true maverick” when it came to production.

Longstanding BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale praised Weatherall’s “inestimable” intelligence and influence, citing him as the reason why she decided to become a “proper DJ” in the 1990s.

Elsewhere, record labels were also quick to pay tribute, with R&S Records saying that “not many people have soundtracked my life with as much amazing music as Andrew Weatherall,” while fellow label Warp Records described him as “a true cultural icon and vital contributor to the label, his absence will be immensely felt.”

Alex Paterson of The Orb posted a great picture of himself and Weatherall on Instagram, with the words “One of the few brave new punks. RIP Andrew. Perpetual sabre in paradise. Higher than the sun.”

And Saint Etienne, whose Weatherall remix of Only Love Can Break Your Heart sums up the joyous exuberance of the early part of the 90s, described the late producer as “one of our heroes”.

RIP Andrew Weatherall – 6 April 1963 – 17 February 2020.