Heartbreaking news as we enter 2014. Diagnosed with lymphoma only nine months ago, hugely respected Oklahoma musician Benjamin Curtis has tragically lost his battle with the disease at the age of 35.

A talented guitarist, songwriter and creative force, Curtis first came to public attention alongside his brother Brandon in adored space-rock trio Secret Machines at the turn of the century. In 2007, Benjamin left the group to form School Of Seven Bells. They released three LPs, the most recent of which, 2012's Ghostory, seemed to signal an exciting future for the band.

Curtis, a gentleman as well as a very talented individual, spoke to Hot Press' Craig Fitzpatrick in 2012 about that record and his plans for the future. You can read it here.

This is the official statement from School Of Seven Bells' Facebook page:

Dear friends,
Last night, Dec. 29th 2013, we lost our friend and brother Benjamin Curtis to his fight against cancer.
While we had hoped to delay this announcement until a more suitable time when his friends and family could feel better prepared and settled to greet any correspondences from folks attempting to reach out, unfortunately the news has prematurely leaked. So we felt it would be appropriate to at least offer an official acknowledgement from us, in light of all the fans who loved and supported Benjamin and his music.
We kindly ask that his immediate family, friends & bandmates’ privacy be respected during this time, and that instead, any inquires, well wishes, or notes-of-consolation be sent through School of Seven Bells’ management, where it can be shared with them at the suitable time. They can be sent to a special e-mail address here: [email protected]
If relevant, further information will be made available through the suitable channels in the near future.
We can’t thank all of you who supported him and his music through the years enough. All of you who attended or participated in the various benefits in and around New York City over the past year since his diagnosis, and of course those who contributed and gave generously to help support him throughout that journey. You made it possible for all of us, and for him, to see how truly loved he was and how many lives he had touched through his music by your gestures. We will all miss this incredibly talented and rare.