Frightened Rabbit say death of singer brings 'overwhelming sadness and pain'

Members of the band Frightened Rabbit said the death of frontman Scott Hutchison had brought the group "overwhelming sadness and pain".

Police have confirmed that a body found on Thursday evening was that of the missing musician.

The 36-year-old had last been seen at around 1am on Wednesday after leaving the Dakota Hotel in South Queensferry.

Frightened Rabbit members Grant, Billy, Andy and Simon said in a statement on Friday: "There are no words to describe the overwhelming sadness and pain that comes with the death of our beloved Scott but to know he is no longer suffering brings us some comfort."

They added: "He will be missed by all of us and his absence will always be felt but he leaves a legacy of hope, kindness and colour that will forever be remembered and shared."

The singer's family said they were "utterly devastated" at his death.

In a statement released through Police Scotland, they said: "As a family, we are utterly devastated with the tragic loss of our beloved Scott.

"Despite his disappearance, and the recent concerns over his mental health, we had all remained positive and hopeful that he would walk back through the door, having taken some time away to compose himself.

"Scott, like many artists, wore his heart on his sleeve and that was evident in the lyrics of his music and the content of many of his social media posts.

"He was passionate, articulate and charismatic, as well as being one of the funniest and kindest people we knew. Friends and family would all agree that he had a brilliant sense of humour and was a great person to be around.

"In addition to his musical success, Scott was a wonderful son, brother, uncle and friend. Despite whatever else was going on in his life he always had time for those he cared for."

The family said they had been overwhelmed by the love and messages of support they had received, saying "it means the world to us", and also thanked police and the Dakota Hotel.

They added: "Depression is a horrendous illness that does not give you any alert or indication as to when it will take hold of you. Scott battled bravely with his own issues for many years and we are immensely proud of him for being so open with his struggles.

"His willingness to discuss these matters in the public domain undoubtedly raised awareness of mental health issues and gave others confidence and belief to discuss their own issues."

Fellow musicians expressed their sadness while tributes flooded in from fans.

Franz Ferdinand singer Alex Kapranos tweeted: "Awful news about Scott Hutchison. A terrible loss."

Biffy Clyro wrote: "So so sad. So so sorry. All our love to the Hutchison family. Rest in peace Scott.x"

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "Heartbreaking news. My thoughts are with Scott's family, friends and fans. A remarkable and much loved talent."

A spokesman for the band's record label Warner Music UK said: "We're devastated by the tragic loss of Scott Hutchison.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, the band and to everyone who knew and loved Scott, a brilliant, deep and beautiful soul gone far too soon."

Police discovered the musician's body at Port Edgar at around 8.30pm on Thursday.

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