By Callum McFadzean

Iconic DJ, Producer, and all round epitome of musical craftmaship, Andrew Weatherall, has died at the age of 56.

His management team released a statement saying; “We are deeply sorry to announce that Andrew Weatherall, the noted DJ and musician passed away in the early hours of this morning, Monday 17 February 2020, at Whipps Cross Hospital, London. The cause of death was a pulmonary embolism. He was being treated in hospital but unfortunately the blood clot reached his heart. His death was swift and peaceful.”

Known as one of the forefathers of acid house, Weatherall was widely known for his production credits on the seminal record “Screamadelica” by Primal Scream, as well as remixing tracks by Saint Etienne and New order to name but a few.

Beginning his career as a resident DJ for Danny Ramplin’s Shoom club nights in the 80’s and working alongside the Boy’s Own Collective as producer and journalist, Weatherall quickly implemented himself as a force in the scene and helped soundtrack the beginning of the 90’s. After a long discography of producing well renowned records and tracks for big artists, such as My Bloody Valentine and the Happy Mondays, he formed the influential groups The Sabres Of Paradise and Two Lone Swordsmen, crossing genre boundaries in piecing together electronica ands post-punk aesthetics. Weatherall drew towards releasing solo music towards the end of his career and was in the process of releasing new tracks on the Byrd Out label before his passing.

The shockwaves of his influence has been felt across numerous genre communities. From shoegaze to dub, Weatherall laid his stamp on everything he touched through his iconic approach to production and mixing. Not afraid to push boundaries in his sets, club nights became a spectacle to listen to new sounds and for punters to be pushed outside their comfort zone. The consistency of his masterful selections became a Weatherall staple for over thirty years.

Russ Forman, one of the founders of legendary Edinburgh club night Pure, shared an anecdote from 1993 with UWS that described how Weatherall missed a flight after peeing himself in the airport, forcing him to pay for a taxi to Leeds from Edinburgh; to then find out he had arrived a day early to his set. An exemplification of his commitment to the craft. Everyone who had spent time with him has a story to tell. JD Twitch described him as a “gentleman” in his lengthy tribute on Resident Advisor; Daniel Avery shared a collection of photos alongside claiming Weatherall as “the best ever”. The list of tributes is endless, everyone from Irvine Welsh to multiple magazine outlets and music venues.

The outpour of grief from prominent musicians, journalists, producers, and fans shows the magnitude of his influence. A genuine legend of the British music scene. A character that embraced music in all levels and represented a passion that many have tried to replicate.