JD Twitch, one half of the Scottish DJ duo Optimo (Espacio), has died following a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer earlier this year. He was 57.
The producer and DJ, whose real name was Keith McIvor, passed away on Friday (Sept. 19) at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow. His longtime musical partner Jonnie Wilkes (aka JG Wilkes) announced the news the following day through social media.
“In a 28 year partnership he changed my life immeasurably and together we took our work in directions and to places few people are lucky enough to explore,” Wilkes wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo gallery of McIvor. “I am forever grateful for everything he bestowed on me, both as a partner in music and as a friend.”
He continued, “Keith’s intensity and passion for life, for music, for creativity and for positive change simply never let up. He was formidable. His belief in people and the idea that standing together, that our collective strength is powerful was unwavering. I loved him for that.”
Wilkes closed his heartfelt tribute by offering condolences to McIvor’s family and friends.
“Thank you to them and the extended group who have tirelessly supported Keith and each other in the last few months. Thank you to the staff at The Hospice who made this last while as good as it possibly could be,” he wrote. “Keith left us far too soon. He will go now to travel those space-ways but I know his energy remains in every one of us who had the privilege of knowing him. I love you forever Keith.”
Born in Edinburgh, McIvor made his name in the ’90s by establishing the influential club night Pure, before relocating to Glasgow. There, he met Wilkes and in 1997, the pair launched Optimo at the city’s Sub Club. Named after the 1983 track by Liquid Liquid, Optimo became an influential Sunday night event, hosting acts like LCD Soundsystem, Franz Ferdinand, Cut Copy, The Rapture, TV on the Radio, and Hot Chip. The weekly party ran until 2010.
As Optimo (Espacio), McIvor and Wilkes were renowned for their expertly curated and often transcendent sets, performing at festivals and clubs across the globe. The duo remained active in touring, music production and running their record label.
In July 2025, McIvor publicly revealed his diagnosis, sharing details of his illness on Instagram. Optimo’s account also announced a fundraiser to help cover the costs of private nursing care and support services.
“My symptoms weren’t immediately diagnosed, and my health declined very quickly over just a few weeks,” McIvor wrote in a July 3 post on Instagram. He went on to thank “everyone who has supported me throughout my journey in music, from the early days of Pure in Edinburgh in the ’90s and through the past 28 years of Optimo (Espacio). Jonnie and I have been lucky enough to play out music at countless clubs and festivals throughout the world, and it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to make a career out of something I love. We have connected with so many beautiful souls through our shared passion for music.”
See Wilkes’ post about McIvor’s passing on Instagram here.
This story originally appeared on Billboard
