Conflict frontman Colin Jerwood has died.
The sad news was confirmed this evening – June 2nd – through the band’s social media channels. A statement from his family opens: “It is with a very heavy heart to announce Colin passed away after a short illness. We know for his supporters that this is difficult news to hear.”
An official statement from Conflict adds: “As you can imagine we are struggling to find the words to describe how sad and upset we feel upon hearing of the loss of our band member and dear friend Colin. We extend our deepest condolences to James, Georgia and the rest of Colin’s family and friends. We ask that you respect their wishes and understand that we are all currently grieving a great loss.”
Colin Jerwood’s family have asked fans not to attend the funeral; “His family will be reading through any comments on the memorial page and your presence will be felt.”
Conflict emerged from Eltham in South London, part of a coterie of bands blending street punk styles with lyrics that openly questioned capitalist society under Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government. Releasing their debut EP on Crass Records in 1982, Conflict would later for their own Mortarhate Records label, a key crucible for the anarchs-punk movement in the UK.
Antagonised by authorities and shunned by the mainstream music industry, Confict nonetheless had a lasting impact of British music, with their direct action ethics in the field of veganism and anti-capitalism causing numerous alienated souls to become drawn into their orbit.
Working continuously over the decade, Conflict’s latest line-up coalesced in 2021, working on new music in the process. The band’s latest work ‘This Much Remains’ was released in May this year. In recent years, Colin Jerwood had been working on a huge memoir, a comprehensive account encompassing “Conflict, the movement, and me.”
Rest in power.
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