Greg Gilbert, frontman of indie rock band Delays, has died of bowel cancer.
His brother Aaron, who plays keyboards in the group, announced the news on Twitter in a lengthy tribute.
Gilbert was diagnosed in 2016 and documented his illness and treatment on social media through poetry and art.
In August, he told his followers he had stopped treatment and was receiving only pain relief at a hospice.
In his tribute, Aaron wrote: "I have no idea how to do this right now, but this afternoon at 2:22; we walked my brother back home to somewhere out there in the ether.
"Greg died surrounded in the endless love that us and all of you have given him on this journey, and we will never be able to fully express how much it meant to him (and all of us) to have you by our side lifting us up like a winged army.
"Your messages, your encouragement and your compassion have been our oxygen for the last 5 years.
"He was my brother and my best friend, and we did everything together, and it was the greatest honour to be with him as he took one last gentle breath before leaving us."
Addressing the band's fans, he added: "Thank you for sharing our grief, and for making it easier to carry at times while you were firefighting battles of your own… and thank you for making Greg such a special person in your lives. I’m so glad we all existed at the same time."
Formed in Southampton in 2001 and originally called Corky, Delays have released four albums to date including their well-received debut Faded Seaside Glamour.
Gilbert’s falsetto vocals was singled out by critics and became a defining feature of the band’s expansive guitar-heavy sound, which was influenced by The La’s, Cocteau Twins and Manic Street Preachers.
Source: Press Association
