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On Tuesday, June 11, Douglas McCarthy passed away at the age of 58. He was one of the co-founders of Nitzer Ebb alongside his friends, David Gooday and Bon Harris. The news of his demise was confirmed by the English EBM group's official Instagram handle.
“It is with a heavy heart that we regret to inform that Douglas McCarthy passed away this morning of June 11th, 2025. We ask everyone to please be respectful of Douglas, his wife, and family in this difficult time. We appreciate your understanding and will share more information soon," wrote the group on Instagram.
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Though the cause of his death has not been confirmed; however, last year, the lead vocalist took a permanent break from his musical career, citing failing health due to liver cirrhosis. As per the Mayo Clinic, liver cirrhosis is scarring of the hepatic tissues due to diseases such as hepatitis or alcohol abuse.
Originally called La Comédie de la Mort, Nitzer Ebb combined punk influences with dance music to release their debut album, The Total Age, in 1987. The band's only album to reach the Billboard 200 was the 1991 hit called Ebbhead. Its follow-up, Big Hit, became Nitzer Ebb's last album before they split for 15 years in 1995.
Douglas McCarthy also collaborated with juggernauts such as Terence Fixmer, Cyrusrex, Paul Barker, Mark Walk, and Depeche Mode, among others. In 2012, McCarthy also released his solo album called Kill Your Friends. Nitzer Ebb reunited in 2006 and released two more albums.
When Douglas McCarthy took a hiatus from Nitzer Ebb, citing cirrhosis of the liver
In 2024, Douglas McCarthy left Nitzer Ebb midway through their European tour because of his faltering health. In a statement shared via the band's official Instagram profile on March 22, McCarthy blamed his "years of alcohol abuse" for his liver cirrhosis diagnosis.
"For over 2 years I haven't been drinking, but recovery is a long process and can at times be extremely hard to predict," stated the musician.
He continued, informing fans that he would not perform in any shows of Nitzer Ebb, Fixmer/McCarthy, or any other musical entity until his health improved.
"I am grateful to the NE family of performers and professional road crew, and I am extremely proud of them all. Especially Bon, whom for more than 40 years has been my partner creatively, personally, and a fellow traveler in the industry."
Bon Harris also supported his longtime bandmate and mourned his failing health.
"It's been very painful to see a loved one and lifelong creative partner suffer the process of alcoholism and the devastating physical and mental effects it leaves in its wake," he wrote.
Finally, Harris confirmed the continuation of Nitzer Ebb while "keep(ing) the door open" for Douglas McCarthy's "eventual return."
It wasn't the first time McCarthy had faced health-related complications during concerts. In 2021, he was forced to opt out of a Nitzer Ebb event at Respectable Street in West Palm Beach. He was replaced by Bon Harris as the lead vocalist.
McCarthy reportedly collapsed before the show and was admitted to the hospital. However, the tour schedule remained unchanged, with a temporary lineup in place to account for the lead vocalist's absence.
