JD Twitch, the Scottish DJ and producer who was one half of the duo Optimo, has died at the age of 57. His DJ partner Jonnie Wilkes announced the death on social media on Saturday.
Twitch, whose real name was Keith McIvor, passed away peacefully at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow on Friday at 2.06pm. The announcement comes two-and-a-half months after McIvor revealed he had been diagnosed with an untreatable brain tumour.
In a heartfelt post, Wilkes said: “It’s with immense sadness that I’m writing to tell you Keith passed away peacefully yesterday… 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.”
McIvor and Wilkes ran Optimo Espacio, a club night at Glasgow’s Sub Club, from 1997 to 2010. The duo were influential figures in the UK electronic music scene.
Northern Irish DJ duo Bicep paid tribute, writing: “We are both utterly heartbroken. The impact Keith and Optimo have had on us is immense, he was a titan of UK music and culture.”
In July, McIvor announced his diagnosis, saying: “Following extensive tests I’ve been diagnosed with a brain tumour and I have been told my condition is untreatable… My symptoms weren’t immediately diagnosed, and my health declined very rapidly over just a few weeks.”
