Both members of the Liverpool band Her’s and their tour manager have been killed in a crash in the US.
Duo Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading, as well as manager Trevor Engelbrektson, died while travelling to a gig in California on Wednesday, their record label Heist or Hit said.
The label described them as “one of the UK’s most loved up and coming bands”.
The duo had recently released their debut album and had been featured by BBC Introducing.
Heist Or Hit said they were killed “in a road accident in the early hours of Wednesday whilst travelling to a show in Santa Ana, California”.
They had performed in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday and were driving about 350 miles to Santa Ana in California when the crash happened.
Posting on their Facebook page on Monday, the band wrote: “It’s almost home time for the lads, US tour has gone swimmingly so far. Got a hot sunset date with the Grand Canyon tonight.”
The label said: “We are all heartbroken. Their energy, vibrancy and talent came to define our label.
“As humans, they were warm, gentle and hilarious. Each time they stopped by the office made for an uplifting experience.”
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said it was investigating a crash on Interstate 10 at 01:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday, but could not confirm the identity of four people killed.
A spokesman said the release of information about the crash would be delayed as a result of “almost all evidence being lost in the fire”.
“The bodies are not identifiable and we are relying on the Medical Examiner’s office to help with positive identification,” added the spokesman.
On its website, Heist or Hit said Mr Fitzpatrick, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and Mr Laading, from Norway, met for the first time in Liverpool as students.
The label said the band were playing 19 shows on their second tour of North America, having released their debut album Invitation To Her’s last year.
It added: “They were in America playing to thousands of adoring fans. Fans they made a point of meeting and spending time with, such was their passion and humbleness. The world was at their feet.”
