UK Band Viola Beach Killed In Horror Crash In Sweden

In one of the worst tragedies to hit rock’n’roll in many years, the rising young UK indie band Viola Beach have died in a car crash in Sweden.

The car, in which the band’s manager, Craig Tarry, was also travelling, plunged into a canal in Södertälje, near the capital city of Stockholm. The police have confirmed that all five passengers in the car died in the accident.

The members of the band, formed in Warrington in 2015, were Kris Leonard (guitar/vocals), Tomas Lowe (bass), River Reeves (guitar) and Jack Dakin (drums).

"We can confirm that five British nationals died in a car accident in Sweden on February 13,” a spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said. "We are in contact with local authorities and supporting the families at this very difficult time."

Police have said that divers recovered the bodies of the deceased. The accident occurred at a bridge, with a reported 25 metre drop into the canal below.

The family of guitarist River Reeves issued a statement following the tragedy. It reads:

"We are all heartbroken following River's tragic death and the circumstances which have seen him lose his life alongside the band-mates and manager he adored and loved being with.

"River had such talent and such humility, such charm and such innocence it seems so unfair that he can be taken so cruelly from us like this.

"We are so proud of him, not only for what he achieved in his short, beautiful life, but also what he was clearly destined to achieve. He will live forever in our hearts and we hope the band's wonderful music lives on."

The band recently played The Academy in Dublin, where they supported Blossoms, on February 5. They released their debut single ‘Swings and Waterslides’ in 2015. They were in Sweden as part of the line-up for the Where Is The Music? festival. Viola Beach were scheduled to play the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, in March this year.