According to Spin, which credits Oklahoma Rock, School of Seven Bells’ guitarist — and a founding member — Benjamin Curtis passed away from T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma yesterday night at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Curtis, an Oklahoma native, was also a member of Secret Machines along with his brother, Brandon, and his cousin, Josh Garza, from 2000 until 2007. He also performed drums for Tripping Daisy from 1997 until 1999.
Curtis first revealed that he was ill in February of 2013. The band posted the following on their Facebook page: “It developed pretty aggressively, and the chemotherapy to treat it will be pretty aggressive, but the good news is that it’s TREATABLE.”
A benefit concert was held in August with members of Interpol and The Strokes along with Devandra Banhart and Danny Masterson.
You can read several messages of support for Curtis, published by FILTER two months ago, from members of the Afghan Whigs, M83, Neu!, Silversun Pickups, the Polyphonic Spree and more.
School of Seven Bells’ latest album was 2012’s Ghostory.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Curtis’ family, friends and bandmembers.
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