Surfer Blood guitarist Thomas Fekete dies after cancer battle

Surfer Blood guitarist Thomas Fekete died Monday after a long battle with cancer, his wife Jessica confirmed on a GoFundMe page raising money for Thomas’ treatment.

“Our sweet Thomas passed on last night, peacefully in his sleep, holding my hand,” she wrote. “With one last sigh, he let go of the burden of pain and suffering that he has been bravely carrying for so long. I am full of comfort knowing that he is now free, and long for the day I get to be with him again.”

Fekete played with Surfer Blood, a Florida band that debuted with “Swim” in 2009, from the beginning and left in 2015 to tend to his health. This past December, he released an 11-track solo album titled Burner that he made while healing from surgeries and preparing to start chemotherapy. All money raised went toward his treatment.

“Some of these songs reflect on good times, days I’m able to walk on my own, talk, and function like a somewhat normal human being,” he said in a statement at the time. “Others remind me of barfing between vocal takes, wheel chairs, dilaudid withdrawals, and tears, from my family, my spouse, my dear friends. However, like everything in my life, I did manage to find some humor in my situation, and I hope that helps level out all the heavy stuff.”

In addition to Burner and the GoFundMe page, Surfer Blood also raised money for Fekete by auctioning off previously unreleased songs from artists including Guided by Voices, Yo La Tengo, Cults, Real Estate, and The Drums.

Jessica said she’ll be hosting a celebration on a South Florida beach the first weekend of July and invites “anyone who holds Thomas in their hearts to please join me in celebrating him.” See her full statement at the GoFundMe page here.