Doug Shaw, a veteran of New York's underground indie scene, has died. His Gang Gang Dance bandmate Lizzi Bougatsos confirmed his death on social media today, in addition to fellow indie musician Angel Deradoorian, who wrote on Instagram, "Our music community will not be the same without you." He was 43.
"Sleepy" Doug Shaw was born in London on November 25, 1982. In 2003, he moved to New York and began performing, and went on to share stages with Lou Reed, Mdou Moctar, Sonic Youth, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, and more. Since 2010, he released solo music under the moniker Highlife, the most recent of which was last year's A Shaw Deal, a collaboration with Geologist (aka Animal Collective's Brian Weitz). He also served as bassist in Gang Gang Dance as well as guitarist and multi-instrumentalist for the Drag City group White Magic and Sierra Leonean star "Bubu King" Janka Nabay's band. He contributed to albums by Cass McCombs, Hal Wilner, Eric Copeland, and more.
