DJ Philippe “Zdar” Cerboneschi, known as one half of the French House duo Cassius, died after allegedly falling out a window of a high-rise building in Paris on June 19, his agent said without elaborating further, according to French media reports.
“He made an accidental fall, through the window of a high floor of a Parisian building,” said Sebastien Farran. He was 52 years old, according to Le Monde.
Police are investigating Cerboneschi’s death, which they said is standard procedure.
Cerboneschi, also known as “Zdar,” was known as one half of the French House duo Cassius, who he formed with Hubert “Boom Bass” Blanc-Francard in 1996.
The duo’s latest album titled “Dreems” is to be released on June 21.
De Motorbass à Cassius, Philippe « Zdar » en six titres https://t.co/XsdgQY0LNn
— Le Monde (@lemondefr) June 20, 2019
Cerboneschi worked with artists Phoenix, Franz Ferdinand, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Jay-Z., Cut Copy, MC Solaar, Hot Chip, Cat Power, and Mike D of The Beast Boys.
Many musicians took to Twitter to express condolences and honor Cerboneschi and his work.
“Awful news about Phillipe Zdar, what an unbelievably lovely man with an incredible legacy,” said DJ Calvin Harris on Twitter, along with a link to a Cassius album he said he was “mesmerzied” by as a teenager.
“I was mesmerized by this record as a 15 year old,” Harris wrote in the June 20 tweet.
Awful news about Phillipe Zdar, what an unbelievably lovely man with an incredible legacy. I was mesmerized by this record as a 15 year old https://t.co/H79OZ19Nxq
— Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) June 20, 2019
“A true original and a unique talent who was involved in making our first album, as well as so many amazing records,” Cut Copy wrote on Twitter. “Your energy and generosity will be sorely missed.”
American musician The Black Madonna described Cerboneschi in a June 20 tweet as “a visionary and tectonic force who shaped the geography of modern dance music.”
RIP Philippe Zdar, a visionary and tectonic force who shaped the geography of modern dance music. I am so sorry to the many friends who mourn his sudden and terrible loss tonight.
— THE BLACK MADONNA (@blackmadonnachi) June 20, 2019
Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand posted four tweets about the French House legend, the last one featured a photo of the two in a studio together.
Farewell, my friend. pic.twitter.com/U6aZB5iHce
— Αλεξ Καπράνος (@alkapranos) June 20, 2019
“Philippe Zdar was a great inspiration, both as a producer, but particularly as a good man and friend,” Kapranos wrote on the social media site. “His taste was impeccable and is heard on everything he worked on. He had a huge joy for life, generosity and passion. I will miss him terribly.”
Totally devastated by the loss of my friend Phillipe Zdar.
Can’t really process it at the moment. Just feel awful.
— Αλεξ Καπράνος (@alkapranos) June 20, 2019
He quit his job as a waiter at his parents’ restaurant in Aix-les-Bains in the French Savoie region in 1989 after he saw a video of British band The Eurythmics rehearsing in Paris, and decided to “find this same magic” there.
The Grammy Award winning musician later met Blanc-Francard in Paris and formed the group Cassius—named after American boxing legend Cassius Clay, who later became known as Mohammad Ali—in 1996.
In Paris, he started out as a singer in a punk-rock band and speed-rock drummer. He later got a job at a music studio and worked alongside established artists like Serge Gainsbourg, Etienne Daho, and Vanessa Paradis. The Grammy-award winning musician also released an album with Etienne de Crécy under the name Motorbass in 1996 and gained some initial success, according to Le Monde.
Cassius eventually became a household name in the French House scene alongside Daft Punk and Air.