Family members of Viola Beach have paid tribute to the band after they were killed in a car crash in Sweden over the weekend.
As reported, the Warrington band and their manager were killed when their car plunged 80ft off a bridge in Stockholm. Police say the car hit a barrier and fell through a gap in the bridge which had opened up to let a passing boat through.
Since then, bands including The Cribs and Courteeners have paid tribute to the rising band and their label have confirmed plans to donate funds from new single ” to the families of those who died.
Viola Beach were guitarist and vocalist Kris Leonard, guitarist River Reeves, Bassist Tomas Lowe and drummer Jack Dakin. The band’s manager was Craig Tarry.
The family of Lowe said his life had been “tragically cut short”.
A Foreign Office statement reads: “Tomas was the best son, brother, uncle and friend you could ever wish for and he will be missed dearly.
“Tomas had a passion for music and for life and he was, in his words, ‘living the dream’ when his life was tragically cut short. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him,” the family added.
Reeves’s family said the situation is “so unfair”.
“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,” they said in a statement.
Meanwhile, frontman Leonard’s family said “words cannot express the sadness we feel at the loss of our precious Kristian”.
“He was doing the job he loved and will be missed so much by his family and friends,” they added in a statement.
Mr Tarry’s relatives said they were “devastated” and “grieving the loss of their son and also for the other families involved in this tragic accident”.
Viola Beach released their debut single ‘Swings & Waterslides’ in 2015 and were set to support Blossoms on their February and March UK and Ireland tour. They were due to fly out to Texas next month with an appearance at SXSW confirmed.
Other festivals they were due to appear at through 2016 include The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City, Bushstock, Latitude, The Secret Garden Party, Liverpool International Music Festival and T In The Park.