JD Twitch, Scottish DJ and Half of Duo Optimo (Espacio), Dies at 57

JD Twitch, 1 fractional of the Scottish DJ duo Optimo (Espacio), has died pursuing a diagnosis of terminal encephalon crab earlier this year. He was 57.

The shaper and DJ, whose existent sanction was Keith McIvor, passed distant connected Friday (Sept. 19) astatine the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice successful Glasgow. His longtime philharmonic spouse Jonnie Wilkes (aka JG Wilkes) announced the quality the pursuing time done societal media.

“In a 28 twelvemonth concern helium changed my beingness immeasurably and unneurotic we took our enactment successful directions and to places fewer radical are fortunate capable to explore,” Wilkes wrote connected Instagram, sharing a photograph assemblage of McIvor. “I americium everlastingly grateful for everything helium bestowed connected me, some arsenic a spouse successful euphony and arsenic a friend.”

He continued, “Keith’s strength and passionateness for life, for music, for creativity and for affirmative alteration simply ne'er fto up. He was formidable. His content successful radical and the thought that lasting together, that our corporate spot is almighty was unwavering. I loved him for that.”

Wilkes closed his heartfelt tribute by offering condolences to McIvor’s household and friends.

“Thank you to them and the extended radical who person tirelessly supported Keith and each different successful the past fewer months. Thank you to the unit astatine The Hospice who made this past portion arsenic bully arsenic it perchance could be,” helium wrote. “Keith near america acold excessively soon. He volition spell present to question those space-ways but I cognize his vigor remains successful each 1 of america who had the privilege of knowing him. I emotion you everlastingly Keith.”

Born successful Edinburgh, McIvor made his sanction successful the ’90s by establishing the influential nine nighttime Pure, earlier relocating to Glasgow. There, helium met Wilkes and successful 1997, the brace launched Optimo astatine the city’s Sub Club. Named aft the 1983 way by Liquid Liquid, Optimo became an influential Sunday nighttime event, hosting acts similar LCD Soundsystem, Franz Ferdinand, Cut Copy, The Rapture, TV connected the Radio, and Hot Chip. The play enactment ran until 2010.

As Optimo (Espacio), McIvor and Wilkes were renowned for their expertly curated and often transcendent sets, performing astatine festivals and clubs crossed the globe. The duo remained progressive successful touring, euphony accumulation and moving their grounds label.

In July 2025, McIvor publicly revealed his diagnosis, sharing details of his unwellness connected Instagram. Optimo’s relationship besides announced a fundraiser to assistance screen the costs of backstage nursing attraction and enactment services.

“My symptoms weren’t instantly diagnosed, and my wellness declined precise rapidly implicit conscionable a fewer weeks,” McIvor wrote successful a July 3 station connected Instagram. He went connected to convey “everyone who has supported maine passim my travel successful music, from the aboriginal days of Pure successful Edinburgh successful the ’90s and done the past 28 years of Optimo (Espacio). Jonnie and I person been fortunate capable to play retired euphony astatine countless clubs and festivals passim the world, and it has been 1 of the top honors of my beingness to marque a vocation retired of thing I love. We person connected with truthful galore beauteous souls done our shared passionateness for music.”

See Wilkes’ station astir McIvor’s passing o...