Earlier this month saw the release of the band's latest album Nine Types of Light, however Smith had to take a step back from promotion, due to illness.

A statement from the band on their website read: "We are very sad to announce the death of our beloved friend and bandmate, Gerard Smith, following a courageous fight against lung cancer. We will miss him terribly".

Smith was discovered by TVOTR frontman Tunde Adebimpe when busking in New York in 2005. ...