Rutger Smeets, 1977-2015

It is with shock and sadness that confirmation comes of the death of Rutger Smeets, former guitarist and vocalist of heavy psych trio Sungrazer.

As the frontman of the Netherlands-based Sungrazer, Smeets was at the fore of one of Europe’s brightest hopes for next-generation heavy psych. Together with bassist Sander Haagmans and drummer Hans Mulders, he released two full-length albums through Stefan Koglek of Colour Haze’s Elektrohasch imprint — Sungrazer (2010) and Mirador (2011) — that showcased progression and seemingly limitless potential through natural vibes, his warm guitar tone and laid back but richly melodic vocals. At festivals like Roadburn 2011, Desertfest London and Berlin in 2012, Sungrazer amassed a considerable fanbase that set them up to pay off all their potential with a significant impact on the genre. They were a special band, and all one had to do was listen to their records to hear it.

Following a 2013 split with countrymen The Machine, Sungrazer unexpectedly called it quits, with Smeets announcing his departure from the band in a short, almost terse post on social media. Earlier this year, he made his debut alongside Mulders in the new outfit Cigale, which despite a folkier and even-more pastoral approach found him contributing many of the same elements that made Sungrazer so special to begin with. Cigale’s 2015 self-titled is one of the best first-albums of the year. No word has been announced on the band’s future plans, but they played Desertfest Berlin this past spring, and if it was slow-going, their arrival meant that both fans of Sungrazer and others would have a new and engaging way to experience Smeets’ work.

On behalf of myself, someone who interviewed Smeets, admired his output and respected the distinctive feel he brought to what’s so often simple imitation — and on behalf of this site — condolences to the family, friends and bandmates current or former. Once more this community is brought together by a devastating loss and reminded of how important we are to each other.

I’ve heard no word of a fundraiser or anything like that being set up for Smeets’ family, but when/if I do, obviously this post will be updated with that information.