Deep Sea Arcade’s Nick Weaver dies at 37

Nick Weaver, co-founder and guitarist with Sydney psychedelic-pop band Deep Sea Arcade, has died at the age of 37.

He lost a battle with bowel cancer, his family confirmed in a statement.

“He was in the midst of many projects including recording a new album with The Tambourine Girls, a disco record with Salmon Brothers, as well as a solo record, which his bandmates have pledged to finish and release soon,” said his family.

“His creativity was only just blossoming, and he will be greatly missed.”

At 13, Weaver’s love of dinosaurs saw him want to be a palaeontologist, a scientist who studied the history of the Earth and its living things.

But a meeting with Nic McKenzie at school changed his direction.

Both had the same music tastes, especially with McKenzie returning from a short stay in England bringing with him the latest Britpop records.

The two were also massive fans of ’60s sci-fi and art movies. McKenzie’s direction of the band’s videos was a homage to Jean-Luc Godard, and the title of their first album Outlands was a reference to Godard’s film Alphaville.

Outlands (2012) was a nod to their ‘60s influences, and was released worldwide through Ivy League. It received acclaim and radio airplay through the UK, Europe and the US.

Blacklight (2018), recorded with the GRAMMY-winning producer Eric J Dubowsky, was darker and electro-grooved with greater use of studio techniques.

It received more global recognition and led to major festival slots and sell-out shows.

In 2013, they joined the management roster of Chugg Music, and Michael Chugg called them “one of the best bands in Australia”.

Weaver was also a long-time collaborator for one-time Deep Sea Arcade touring guitarist, Simon Relf’s project The Tambourine Girls.