Metal pioneer and Bethlehem founder Jürgen Bartsch has died

Metal pioneer and Bethlehem musician Jürgen Bartsch has died.

Bartsch served as the founding member and sole constant presence in the German extreme metal band, and passed away after an undisclosed illness, news that was shared by the band’s current singer Yvonne “Onielar” Wilczynska.

On Instagram, Onielar wrote (as translated from German via Consequence): “He has died many times… But death was only temporary. After a serious illness, perseverance, and great fighting spirit, our beloved friend and esteemed founder of Bethlehem – Jürgen Bartsch – passed away on August 27, 2025.

“In deep sorrow and with a broken heart, in the name of Bethlehem, we will never forget you, Jürgen. Rest in peace.”

Fans were quick to pay tribute on social media, with one X/Twitter user thanking the musician for “all the incredible albums, eerie sounds and abstract lyrics that made up your life’s work”.

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Bartsch was the founding bassist and primary songwriter of Bethlehem, which he founded in 1991. The band have long been considered pioneers in the DSBM (Depressive Suicidal Black Metal) genre, combing black and doom metal on a series of albums released throughout the 1990s, including their 1994 debut ‘Dark Metal’ and its follow-up ‘Dictius te necare’.

More recently, Bartsch spoke to Chaosphonia last year, reflecting on the finding humour in his work, despite broaching such dark topics.

“I don’t take myself seriously because I just can’t,” he said. “I’m a German idiot who can’t take himself too seriously. No, it’s for the art; my personal life is a bit different from what’s being presented in my art.

“In the past, a lot of people came to the house where I used to live and some of them were so disappointed that my mates from Bethlehem, my friends, and I were laughing all the time.

He went on to say that the band would always find humour “because life doesn’t exist with only depression, suicide and whatnot. This is one side of the medal. Fortunately, there is also another side.”

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