Stewart Lupton of Jonathan Fire*Eater, RIP

Stewart Lupton, frontman of influential mid-’90s New York rock revivalists Jonathan Fire*Eater, has died at the age of 43. As Stereogum reports, Washington Post reporter David Malitz posted the news on Twitter, and Stewart’s cousin Sarah Lupton confirmed it on Instagram.

Formed in Washington, DC, Jonathan Fire*Eater relocated to NYC and their sharp post-punk inspired sound and fashion sense were a precursor to what would happen in the early-’00s with Interpol, The Strokes and Yeah Yeahs. They split a year after releasing their second album, 1997 Wolf Songs for Lambs, and the band’s Paul Maroon, Matt Barrick, and Walter Martin went on to form The Walkmen with Hamilton Leithauser and Peter Bauer. Lupton studied poetry in Washington DC following the split, and went on to form Childballads.

Rest in peace Stewart. You can listen to some of his music, and read tributes from The Kills’ Alison Mosshart, Cat Power, and Hookworms. below: