Tributes have been paid to Liquid’s Eamon Downes following the news of his death.
Downes, who formed one half of breakbeat hardcore legends Liquid, was revealed to have passed away by DJ and friend Billy Daniel Bunter. “It’s with heartbreaking sadness that I’m letting the world know we’ve lost Eamon Downes, devoted husband to Stella, proud dad to Bea, and one of my closest friends ever,” he wrote. “This one really hurts”.
According to Bunter, the DJ had been suffering from a brain tumour for the last five years. “I still remember him playing me “Sweet Harmony” down the phone before it got cut,” Bunter said of Liquid’s seminal track. “When XL signed it, he was buzzing. Sending dubplates by bike to Pete Tong and then straight to me at Labrynth, he loved that side of things.
“Every time I play a tune from ’89–’92, he’s with me,” Bunter added. “Every time I look at Bea or speak to Stella, he’s with me. Every rave, every radio show, every moment. I miss you already, Eamon. I love you always”.
Meanwhile, XL posted their own tribute to the DJ, writing: “XL has had the great pleasure of releasing Eamon’s music and working with him across different decades. With eternal classics like ‘Sweet Harmony’ and ‘Liquid is Liquid’, Eamon helped define the sound of ’90s rave and beyond. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and everyone touched by his music.”
See more tributes below:
Long live Eamon Downes of Liquid ❤️
XL has had the great pleasure of releasing Eamon’s music and working with him across different decades. With eternal classics like ‘Sweet Harmony’ and ‘Liquid is Liquid’, Eamon helped define the sound of 90s rave and beyond. Our thoughts are… pic.twitter.com/86FcctdH2K— XL RECORDINGS (@XLRECORDINGS) July 21, 2025
Sad to learn today of the passing of Eamon Downes of “Liquid “. – Sweet Harmony was such a beautiful record that reminds me of happy times in the early 90’s UK Rave era – including my Kiss100 days and our Astoria Raves ….thoughts with his family and friends RIP x pic.twitter.com/2EXDVF0I7W
— Dave Pearce (@dj_davepearce) July 21, 2025
Such sad news that our friend Eamon from Liquid has passed away. We had sooo much fun over the years.
Gonna miss you brother 💔 😪https://t.co/9LuiKJQNda
— Slipmatt (@Slipmatt) July 21, 2025
Liquid was XL head honcho Richard Russell’s first signing as a then-A&R, and the release of ‘Sweet Harmony’ in 1992 would help cement rave and breakbeat as the essential soundtrack to British counterculture at the time.
The duo would go on to release five EPs and one album with the label, which was recently re-released on digital formats earlier this year.
For a month, XL Recordings uploaded Liquid’s catalogue onto streaming services. It also marks the first time some of their work has been available to listen to digitally, including EPs like ‘One Love Family’, ‘Closer’ and ‘Time To Get Up’.
