DJ Robert Miles dies in Ibiza aged just 47

He died on the Balearic island, where he has a home and hosted a radio show on Openlab, the station he founded. Local reports said he had been suffering from cancer.

The 47-year-old Italian music maker was responsible for ‘Children’, one of the iconic dance hits of the 1990s which went to number one in twelve countries when it was released in 1995.

It sold more than five million copies and achieved Platinum and Gold status in multiple countries earning him the accolade of the only Italian, to date, ever to win a BRIT award.

"Robert passed away peacefully last night after a courageous battle with stage 4 metastatic cancer over the last 9 months," OpenLab, which also broadcasts on traditional airwaves in the Balearic islands of Ibiza and Formentera, said on its Facebook page.

"Throughout it he was strong, determined, incredibly brave and did everything he could to fight this horrendous disease," it said.   

"Robert was more than just an artist, he was a pioneer, a creator, an inspiration, a son, a father, our friend."

Artists and producers from across the music world paid tribute to Miles, whose real name was Roberto Concina, whose music defined the sound of a generation.

“The tragic news of the death of a very talented artist of our time, makes me incredulous and upset. With him also it is a part of my life as an artist manufacturer. I will miss the fights, brawls, criticism, judgments but especially your talent in finding sounds and melodies unparalleled," long-time friend and producer Joe T Vannelli  told DJ Mag Italia.