Kirk Rundstrom, vocalist of cow-punk/bluegrass act Split Lip Rayfield has passed away after a long battle with cancer. Rundstrom, the 38-year old, was diagnosed with the disease last spring and managed to fight - and still perform - for months longer than he had originally been given by doctors.

His friends and label had this to say:

Kirk was, without debate, one of the most dynamic and passionate performers we have ever seen. To see him on stage was to see a man totally focused on, totally POSSESSED with, the music of the moment. He never ever took his audience for granted and delivered the goods with a ferocious energy that flowed through the room. I had personally seen him play some 75 times and it was never boring, it was never phoned in and it was hard to take my eyes off him. If you left a show of theirs without sweating, without losing yourself in the joyous abandon of music, it wasn't from his lack of trying.

Our deepest condolences to Kirk's friends, family and fans.