One of Australia’s most influential and unique musicians, Roland S. Howard, has died.

The 50-year-old Melbourne icon lost his battle with liver cancer yesterday, the infamous guitarist having previously admitted he was hoping for a liver transplant in order to survive. With his distinctive feedback and distortion, Howard was instrumental in the success of one of Melbourne’s most legendary groups: the Birthday Party. The band had evolved from an earlier outfit, the Boys Next Door, a goth-punk band Roland formed with pal Nick Cave back in 1973.

Howard will be best remembered for his hit song “Shivers” (later successfully covered by Newcastle’s the Screaming Jets), while he recently enjoyed the release of his latest acclaimed solo LP, Pop Crimes. His raw blues-inspired work was also celebrated by collaborators Henry Rollins, Magic Dirt, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and others. Howard was recently formed to cancel a string of live dates to his ill health.