Douglas McCarthy, frontman of industrial EDM band Nitzer Ebb, has died at the age of 58.
“It is with a heavy heart that we regret to inform that Douglas McCarthy passed away this morning of June 11th, 2025,” read a statement on Nitzer Ebb’s official social media channels last night.
“We ask everyone to please be respectful of Douglas, his wife, and family in this difficult time. We appreciate your understanding and will share more information soon.”
Mute, the group’s label, also shared a message online. “We’ll miss him terribly, his spirit, artistry and personality effected Mute indelibly in the most wonderful of ways,” it read.
A cause of death of not yet known. You can see the posts below.
Paying tribute on social media, record label Dark Entries wrote: “We lost an icon 🕊️ R.I.P. Douglas McCarthy, a tour de force of musical innovation and acumen.
“Your music forever changed my life listening to ‘That Total Age’ on cassette driving to dance at the goth clubs with industrial rooms your music gave birth to.
“Always a fierce supporter of our label and will never forget the last time I saw you wearing our Sylvester t-shirt 💗 Sending our deepest sympathies to your family and loved ones and fans around the world 😢.”
we lost an icon 🕊️ R.I.P. Douglas McCarthy a tour de force of musical innovation and acumen. Your music forever changed my life listening to That Total Age on cassette driving to dance at the goth clubs with industrial rooms your music gave birth to. Always a fierce supporter of… pic.twitter.com/PHrIOdFVfZ
— Dark Entries Records (@darkentriesrecs) June 11, 2025
Nitzer Ebb was founded in 1982 by McCarthy and his school friends Vaughan ‘Bon’ Harris and David Gooday. The Essex outfit blended post-punk sounds with new electronic and industrial styles.
They signed to Mute and released their debut studio album, ‘That Total Age’, in 1987. The band opened for their longtime friends and labelmates Depeche Mode on their ‘Music For The Masses’ European tour that same year.
Gooday quit Nitzer Ebb after the tour, with the remaining members continuing as a duo. The pair regularly collaborated with producer Flood and Alan Wilder of Depeche Mode.
Nitzer Ebb shared four more albums together before breaking up in 1995. However, McCarthy continued working with Wilder as part of the latter’s Recoil project.
McCarthy and Harris reunited Nitzer Ebb in 2007 for a run of live shows. They released their sixth and final album, ‘Industrial Complex’, in 2010. The duo then welcomed Gooday back to the group in 2019 for a North American reunion tour.
The late singer also released a solo album, ‘Kill Your Friends’, in 2012.
Last year, McCarthy stepped down from a European tour with Nitzer Ebb due to liver cirrhosis “following years of alcohol abuse” He said (via The Guardian): “For over two years I have not been drinking, but recovery is a long process.”
Writing in tribute to McCarthy, Alan Wilder said: “Such sad news to have lost this fella. My friend of over 35 years.
“Prolific lyricist and dynamic performer with Nitzer Ebb, occasional guest vocalist with Recoil. Despite his health struggles, he never ever wallowed or lost an ounce of his incredible razor-sharp irreverent humour, or his deeply warm heart. Farewell old chum…”
Douglas McCarthy 1966 – 2025Such sad news to have lost this fella. My friend of over 35 years. Prolific lyricist and…
Posted by Alan Wilder on Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The Smashing Pumpkins‘ frontman Billy Corgan paid his respects with a post on Instagram Stories. Elsewhere, Cold Cave – who previously toured with McCarthy – said: “Jesus… rest in peace brother Douglas McCarthy.”
LA-based artist, art director and designer Steven.R.Gilmore wrote: “This homage is an extremely difficult one.
“Douglas was a dear friend and he will be greatly missed. I will miss his warmth and love, his wicked sense of humour and sarcasm, his knowledge, his cooking, to say nothing of his suave sense of style. He was truly one-of-a-kind.”
Responding to Nitzer Ebb’s statement, DJ and producer Dave Clarke commented: “Doug was a true gentleman and a great artist. I wish all his friends family and music mates love and hugs 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤.” He then shared another tribute on Instagram, writing: “No words just sadness RIP Doug 🖤.”
Jesus… rest in peace brother Douglas McCarthy #nitzerebb pic.twitter.com/7kzd1zeQYQ
— COLD CAVE (@ColdCave23) June 11, 2025
McCarthy was born in Barking, east London in 1966, and grew up in Essex. He moved to Los Angeles in 1995 before relocating to Grosse Pointe, Michigan near Detroit.
The vocalist later returned to England, where he studied design and film in Cambridge after a period of working in advertising. He subsequently settled in LA with his third wife, filmmaker Hazel Hill McCarthy III.
