SINGER and musician Bap Kennedy, brother of Brian Kennedy, has died aged 54 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The singer, whose real name is Martin Christopher Kennedy, was diagnosed in May this year.
A statement released on his website confirmed his passing last night, November 1.
"We are devastated to announce that Bap passed away this evening. Bap was extremely brave until the end," it read.
"We would like to thank everybody for their kind messages of support over the past few months, these meant a lot to Bap and Brenda and helped Bap stay positive throughout his illness."
Bap Kennedy was born in Belfast in 1962, on the Falls Road, where he lived until 1985 when he left for London to pursue a music career with his band Energy Orchard.
While in London, Mr Kennedy started working with Van Morrison, and after the band split up, he went to Tennessee to perform with Steve Earle.
Bap Kennedy is also noted for his collaborations with Shane MacGowan and Mark Knopfler, as well as performing the title theme to Serendipity with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, titled Moonlight Kiss.
In 2007, he returned to his native Belfast where he met and married his wife Brenda, who is also the bassist in his band.
Bap Kennedy and younger brother Brian Kennedy had been estranged for a number of years, with Brian saying the pair were like "oil and water, we just don't mix."
Bap Kennedy also told The Irish Post in 2014, "We played in some bands together way back, but he does his own thing and I do mine."
However, in a recent interview about his own rectal cancer diagnosis, Brian Kennedy told Today FM's Matt Cooper he reached out when he realised how ill his brother was.
"Cancer puts manners on all situations," he said.
He said he’s “responding really well” to treatment.
Bap Kennedy is survived by his wife Brenda, and two stepchildren Christina and Kenneth.
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