Douglas McCarthy, the iconic singer and co-founder of the groundbreaking electronic body music (EBM) group Nitzer Ebb, died on June 11, 2025, aged 58. The group shared the tragic news on its official social media channels.
It is with sadness that we regret to announce that Douglas McCarthy died this morning on June 11th, 2025,” the statement read. “We kindly ask that everybody please be respectful of Douglas, his wife, and his family during these hard times. We are thankful for your tolerance and will have more information forthcoming.
Though the band has not officially released a cause of death, sources suggest that doctors diagnosed McCarthy with cirrhosis of the liver in 2024.
A Legendary Career in Industrial and EBM Music
Born in 1966 in London, Douglas McCarthy founded Nitzer Ebb in 1982 with Vaughan “Bon” Harris and David Gooday. With their brute, violent sound and spare beats, the group defined the worldwide industrial and EBM movements during the 1980s and early 1990s.
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Nitzer Ebb gained international fame with tracks such as “Murderous,” “Join In The Chant,” “Control I’m Here,” and “Fun to Be Had.” Their partnership with Mute Records and their inclusion on Depeche Mode’s Violator tour solidified their influence and reach in the electronic music world.
Legacy and Personal Life
Despite the group splitting up in 1995, they got back together in 2006 and were still active in the scene. The band had just announced a North American tour this fall, with one show at the Dark Waves festival in Chicago.
Douglas McCarthy married three times and lived in Los Angeles with his third wife, Hazel Hill McCarthy III. He had two children with his wife. Meanwhile, fans and artists have already started paying their respects to McCarthy’s lasting legacy, honoring him as one of the seminal voices of industrial music.
