Post-Industrial music artist Phil Western has passed away. The Canadian musician died on February 9, 2019 at the age of only 47 for undisclosed reasons.
Western’s family has made a statement through his personal Facebook profile here.
Western. closely associated with seminal Industrial/EBM band Skinny Puppy, through the band’s now deceased Dwayne R. Goettel, made a name for itself in the electro, industrial and ambient scene during the mid-1990s.
Western and Goettel together established the label Subconscious. Western would also join Skinny Puppy’s cEvin Key in the projects platEAU and Download, both of which after Goettel’s passing saw Western become a core member and musical partner with Key.
Western, known as a sound, or “remix” engineer worked with Nine Inch Nails, various Metal artists such as Rob Halford and Metallica, and also worked as musician in other various projects, productions, and a number of solo releases.
Western’s most recent work was his co-production of cEvin Key’s new Download album Unknown Room, which is set for release on March 8th via Artoffact.
A tour was planned in support of the album for which the status of is currently unknown at this time in light of Western’s passing.
cheers to you Phil. I raide s much needed drink in your honor I had such a good time making this album with you. we had plans to tour and Im going to miss you every second <3https://t.co/XQcqjHrnwB https://t.co/XQcqjHrnwB
— cEvin Key (@cEvinKey) 10. Februar 2019
It has been noted by Volt Magazin that by perhaps by a strange coincidence Western foreshadowed his own death by making a new year’s Facebook post stating:
“I want to make 2019 count. Should not say that though. That’s the kind of thing you say and then the and then people get chills when they read your comment later. “
RIP my friend and partner <3 pic.twitter.com/xTSmwgIE3N
— cEvin Key (@cEvinKey) 10. Februar 2019
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