JD Twitch, the Scottish DJ and producer who formed one half of the duo Optimo, has died at the age of 57. His death was announced by his DJ partner Jonnie Wilkes, also known as JG Wilkes, in a social media post on Saturday.
Wilkes confirmed that Keith McIvor, Twitch's real name, passed away peacefully at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow on Friday afternoon. McIvor had revealed in July that he had been diagnosed with an untreatable brain tumour.
In his tribute, Wilkes said: 'In a 28-year partnership he changed my life immeasurably and together we took our work in directions and to places few people are lucky enough to explore. Keith's intensity and passion for life, for music, for creativity and for positive change simply never let up. He was formidable.'
McIvor and Wilkes ran the influential club night Optimo Espacio at Glasgow's Sub Club from 1997 to 2010. The duo were known for their eclectic sets and significant impact on the UK music scene.
Northern Irish DJ duo Bicep paid tribute, calling McIvor 'a titan of UK music and culture' and remembering him as 'incredibly kind, warm, genuine, caring'.
