Pitchfork

Rob Mitchell, the founder of the UK's leading electronic label, Warp Records, has died. According to a spokesperson for the label, Mitchell had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, but it was unfortunately caught too late to be easily treated. He passed away Monday.

Warp released this statement concerning Mitchell's death on their website yesterday:

"It feels strange posting this news on our website but we want to stop any unnecessary speculation. Co-founder of Warp Records Rob Mitchell passed away on Monday morning 8th October after a hard-fought battle with cancer. This is obviously a very sad time for us and all who knew Rob. Everyone here at Warp will continue to build on what Rob has given us."

Warp Records initially began as a record store in Sheffield, England in 1987. Two years later, owners Mitchell and Steve Beckett decided to start the record label of the same name. Since then, Warp has grown into England's most creative and prestigious electronic imprint, with a roster boasting ranging from the IDM elite (Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Autechre, Boards of Canada) to glitch-hop pioneers like Prefuse 73, Anti-Pop Consortium, Nightmares on Wax and Red Snapper.