Polaris guitarist Ryan Siew dies aged 26

The guitarist of popular Australian metalcore band Polaris, Ryan Siew, has died aged 26. 

The band confirmed his death this week in an emotional Instagram post and said that their European summer tour will no longer go ahead. 

‘It is with shattered hearts and the deepest sorrow that we tell you our dear brother and bandmate Ryan Siew passed away on the morning of Monday June 19,’ they wrote.

‘He was 26 years old, and for 10 incredible years, he was our best friend and artistic soulmate.’

‘Those years will never be enough. He was kindhearted and clever, he was funny and brave and creative, and he was talented beyond all measure.’

Polaris also asked fans of the band for privacy, writing, ‘We ask that you please respect the wishes of Ryan’s family for privacy at this time, and likewise that you give us, our team and family the space to grieve & attempt to heal from this immeasurable loss.

‘We know that you will be grieving with us and that we, and our community, will hold each other through this.’

Just a week before confirming Siew’s death, the band shocked fans by pulling out of their European tour due to a then-unnamed ‘personal crisis’.

‘To our friends across Europe,’ they wrote at the time. ‘We are heartbroken to tell you that due to a personal crisis in our family, we will be withdrawing from all remaining dates of our current European summer run.’

They added, ‘This is not something we take lightly and we are truly sorry for the inconvenience or disappointment caused.’ 

The Sydney-based band was formed in 2012 when they were all still teenagers.

They won an ARIA award in 2021 for Best Independent Heavy Album or EP for their sophomore album, The Death of Me.

The rockers won an ARIA award in 2021 for Best Independent Heavy Album or EP for their sophomore album, The Death of Me