Broadcast: ‘Before We Begin’


What an absolute tragedy. Reports are circulating that Broadcast’s Trish Keenan has died.

The singer and multi-instrumentalist was hospitalised last month after contracting a strain of H1N1 swine flu while on tour in Australia with Broadcast. Her condition quickly deteriorated, and doctors found that she was also suffering from pneumonia. She had reportedly been in a critical condition, on life support, since Christmas.

Twitter has been awash with the news of Keenan’s untimely passing, but the source is uncertain, and there has not yet been any confirmation from Keenan’s family or management.

Warp Records, Broadcast’s label, has just issued an official statement on its website:

It is with great sadness we announce that Trish Keenan from Broadcast passed away at 9am this morning in hospital. She died from complications with pnuemonia after battling the illness for two weeks in intensive care.

Our thoughts go out to James, Martin, her friends and her family and we request that the public respect their wishes for privacy at this time.

This is an untimely tragic loss and we will miss Trish dearly – a unique voice, an extraordinary talent and a beautiful human being. Rest in Peace.

Keenan is best known for her work in Broadcast, of which she and husband James Cargill were the only constant members. They formed in 1995 and released four albums: The Noise Made By People (2000), Haha Sound (2003), Tender Buttons (2005) and the 2009 collaboration with Ghost Box’s Julian House, Broadcast and The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of The Radio Age.

We offer our are heartfelt condolences to Trish’s husband, friends and family.