In brief
- Her’s had been driving to a show in California when they died
- Their manager was also killed in the crash
Both members of the band Her’s have been killed in a car crash while on tour in the US, it has been revealed.
Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading’s manager, Trevor Engelbrektson, also died in the crash on Wednesday.
The Liverpool-based indie band’s label, which confirmed the news, said the team was “heartbroken” over the tragedy and said of the duo: “The world was at their feet.”
Fans paid tribute to the group, with one person calling them “the most precious band I’ve ever watched”.
The three men had been travelling 350 miles from a show in Phoenix, Arizona, to Santa Ana, California, where they were due to perform.
A vehicle going the wrong way on Interstate 10 collided with a van carrying three people shortly after 1am local time, according to local reports, which also said four people died.
Police could not confirm the identities of those killed.
‘Distraught’
Her’s label, Heist Or Hit, said everyone at the company was “distraught” over the news.
“We are all heartbroken. Their energy, vibrancy and talent came to define our label. As humans, they were warm, gentle and hilarious. Each time they stopped by the office made for an uplifting experience,” said the statement, signed by Mick Scholefield, Martin Colclough and Patrick Fogarty.
‘They loved one another like brothers. Musically, Her’s were astonishing. An aptitude for melody, fun, and entertainment combined with a complexity that was as sophisticated as it was stylish’
Her’s label
“To say they were close would be an underestimation of a friendship that was genuinely beautiful to witness; they loved one another like brothers. Musically, Her’s were astonishing. An aptitude for melody, fun, and entertainment combined with a complexity that was as sophisticated as it was stylish.
“They were in America playing to thousands of adoring fans. Fans they made a point of meeting and spending time with, such was their passion and humbleness.”
Her’s were on their second tour of North America playing 19 shows having released their debut album Invitation To Her’s last year.
Mr Fitzpatrick was from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, while Mr Laading was originally from Kristiansand, Norway. It is not clear how old they were.
They met while studying at the Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts. Her’s were a regular feature on British radio and last year they were named as ones to watch by the Guardian.
In 2017, NME magazine said: “Her’s are not a group to stand still. Each song they produce, from the lo-fi bedroom pop power of debut track to ‘Dorothy’ to the duo’s equally melodic take on slacker-rock on ‘Marcel’, sees the Liverpool-based duo shift and float between sounds, never really fitting into one genre, but somehow nailing whatever they end up doing.”
‘Rest easy’
Fans expressed their shock at the news and paid tribute to Her’s on social media. “Rest easy to the most precious band I’ve ever watched. Can’t believe I was watching them less than a week ago,” said one person.
rest easy to the most precious band I’ve ever watched. Can’t believe I was watching them less than a week ago. Hold onto moments in ur life,, they don’t last forever #hers pic.twitter.com/o4Xlcosw9W
— clarissa lyle ♻️ (@Lyle_Clarissa) March 28, 2019
Another said: “I just heard the horrible news about the passing of the band Her’s. They were so young and talented, their music was so beautiful, I still can’t believe it. I will always be a fan.”
A fan said they wished they had had the chance to go to one of Her’s shows. “My heart hurts. I wanted to go to one of their shows. Their music helped me through so much. Such a loss of wonderful humans… rest easy, dudes.”
Additional reporting by PA