We are absolutely gutted to report that David Berman died on Wednesday, August 7 at the age of 52. It’s taken us a few days to process the news. As we wrote earlier this week, he was posting images on the Instagram account of his record label, Drag City, on Tuesday. And, he was scheduled to begin touring in support of his latest project, Purple Mountains, this weekend. Drag City announced Berman’s passing via social media.

According to the New York Times, a spokesman for the New York City’s medical examiner has ruled the death of the poet and maestro behind the Silver Jews to be by suicide. Berman hanged himself in an apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was found Wednesday and pronounced dead on the scene.

In the days following his death, friends and fans have taken to social media to express their sadness at his passing. Filmmaker Lance Bangs organized a make-shift memorial for Berman outside the Met Breuer (formerly the Whitney Museum). The site was chosen because Berman worked as a security guard at the Whitney when he lived in New York. At the memorial, people read passages of Berman’s lyrics and poetry.

Huichica East, the festival Purple Mountains was scheduled to headline, will go on as planned. However, Destroyer (AKA Dan Bejar), who was close friends with Berman, will not be performing.