Hip-hop beatsmith Red Astaire dies after heart attack

Producer was admitted to hospital on Tuesday but passed three days later

The Swedish producer behind the much loved aliases Red Astaire and Freddie Kruger has died after a heart attack.

The DJ and producer – real name Fredrik Lager – is reported to have suffered a heart attack in his hometown Stockholm but failed to recover and passed away on Friday June 10.

Most closely associated with Brighton’s Tru Thoughts stable, his death has elicited tributes from across the music industry.

-Dirk V of Groove Distribution said: “All of us at Groove Distribution are very sad to learn of Fredrik Lager’s passing. The deejay/producer known under the aliases Freddie Cruger and Red Astaire had a heart attack last Tuesday and passed away at the end of the week. He was an extremely nice guy and a tremendous talent and he has been taken from us much too early. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family along with all his friends and fans that will miss him. We first starting work directly with Freddie (as we could call him) back in 2005 when I reached out him just as a fan. Since then we have put out a bunch of records together on his labels Homegrown and House of Godis. His music helped define what our company is all about. Rest In Power.”

Nik Weston of the Mukatsuku label, who reissued his ‘Take It Persoanlly’ single in 2018, told us: “Freddie had been a friend since 2002 and we were emailing each other only 3-4 weeks ago but he gave no indication he had health issues…”

In 2003 Red Astaire’s ‘Follow Me’ single on the GAMM imprint achieved widespread notoriety, with Freddie finally releasing his debut album on Tru Thoughts in October 2006.