Kirk Rundstrom, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and dobro player for kick-ass Kansas speed-bluegrass outfit Split Lip Rayfield, passed away today, according to a press release issued by the band’s label, Bloodshot Records. (Read the whole press release after the cut.) As I reported back in November, Rundstrom had been battling cancer, and the band’s show at the Tractor in late 2006 was part of their final tour.

Sad. Very, very sad. I’m gonna go spin Should Have Seen It Coming and crack open a tallboy now.

Bloodshot Records Update: Split Lip Rayfield's Kirk Rundstrom Passes Away

On February 22nd, Kirk Rundstrom, the singer/songwriter/guitarist for Split Lip Rayfield and Scroat Belly, passed away after a lengthy and heroic battle against cancer.

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 wasn¹t from his lack of trying. Standing still at a Split Lip show just wasn’t an option. His gift was the ability to let rock and roll well up from its purest emotional state and give it to the room in all its liberating glory.

When Kirk was diagnosed last spring, he was given just a few months. It is a testimony to his incredible spirit that he was performing into this month.

The fans that came out during this time filled the venues with palpable love. To have played a part in this accumulation of affection, in this tight knit community of Split Lip lovers, over the years is truly a humbling honor. He loved playing and it showed, and the fans loved him back.

Kirk is responsible for a lot of people having a LOT of fun over the years; if everyone could have that on their resumes, the world would be a much better place.

He is missed already.