R.I.P. - Douglas McCarthy (†58, „Nitzer Ebb“-Singer), 11. Juni 2025

Douglas McCarthy was born in London in 1966 and founded Nitzer Ebb in 1982, still a teenager, along with Vaughan "Bon" Harris and David Gooday. Even the band's name, almost unpronounceable for Brits, was intended to be provocative.

Nitzer Ebb achieved hits like "Fun To Be Had"

Although the first singles were still heavily inspired by post-punk, the sound soon evolved and became influenced by industrial and electronic music. With songs like "Murderous," "Join In The Chant," "Control I'm Here," and "Fun To Be Had," Nitzer Ebb became pioneers of Electronic Body Music (EBM), a genre that combined elements of industrial, punk, and dance music.

In Germany, Nitzer Ebb attracted considerable attention, particularly as the opening act for Depeche Mode on their European tour in 1988. Their debut album, "That Total Age," released on the indie label Mute, had already been in record stores for a year. Several of the band's songs reached the top 10 of the dance charts.

With "Big Hit" from 1995, Nitzer Ebb initially said goodbye to the mainstream and disbanded. In the 1990s, McCarthy contributed to "Recol," the solo project of Depeche Mode's Alan Wilder, and later collaborated with French producer Terence Fixmer (Fixmer/McCarthy).

In 2006, Nitzer Ebb made an (unexpected) comeback, which resulted in their final album, "Industrial Complex," in 2010. In 2013, McCarthy finally released his only solo album, "Kill Your Friends."

In March 2024, the singer retired from live performances for health reasons. He was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. However, no further details have been revealed about the exact cause of death.

Nitzer Ebb - Fun To Be Had

Nitzer Ebb - Murderous (2006 Remaster)

Nitzer Ebb - Join in the chant - Live in Hamburg

 

R.I.P. - Douglas McCarthy

 

Nitzer Ebb - Control I’m Here

Nitzer Ebb - Lightning Man

 

As your world slowly shatters around you, and you can't stand looking at the ruins anymore...
it's getting harder and harder to escape the recurring dark thoughts...
that keep getting ever darker with each new stab in your back.

R.I.P. Douglas McCarthy. Huge thank you for your great contribution to electronic music.

 

Last edited: Jun 14, 2025 at 1:28 PM

Recoil, Alan Wilder writes on Instagram:

Douglas McCarthy 1966 - 2025

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...

AW