How did Ryan Biggs die? Australian DJ, 30, found dead in his home days after he posted about 'rebirth'
Ryan Biggs, better known as DELETE, was discovered dead at his home in Waalwijk, the Netherlands, on Saturday night, April 30. He had only a few days prior posted an Instagram photo celebrating his 'rebirth.' Although the reason for Biggs' death has not been determined, local media reports indicate that the incident is not being investigated as suspicious.
The 30-year-old DJ had spent the previous nine years in Europe, building a name for himself in the hardstyle community but it wasn't always easy, according to his bereft relatives. Annmarie Biggs, his stepmother, said he had struggled with his mental health during his time away from home.
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DELETE was renowned as the 'King of Gated Kicks,' a sound technique prominent in his type of music, and had amassed around 67,000 social media followers from all across the world. Biggs had previously spoken out about his sadness, canceling gigs and delaying song releases as a result of his mental health issues.
Biggs sent out a message to his fans two weeks before his death, while performing his farewell act at the REBiRTH festival in the Netherlands. He thanked them for sticking with him throughout his career, including during his 'silence,' and promised to deliver them a spectacular show, portraying his own rebirth.
Heartbroken fans and friends raced to social media to offer their condolences to the beloved DJ as the world mourns his untimely demise. Toneshifterz, another Australian DJ, expressed his astonishment. "Legend, rest in peace," Toneshifterz said. "It was too early for you to leave, you touched many peoples hearts with your music and we will miss you. We lost an Australian hardstyle Legend today." Randy 'Ran-D' Wieland and Bob van der Palen, aka B-Front, both of whom are Dutch DJs, expressed their condolences to his family and stated that he would be 'missed.'
'Payback,' featuring MC Tha Watcher, was Biggs' biggest hit, with nearly 2 million views on YouTube and 8 million on Spotify since its release in 2018. Defqon.1, Decibel, QAPITAL, Loudness, Q-BASE, Dominator, Masters of Hardcore, Hard Bass, and Supremacy are just a few of the world's largest hardstyle events where he has performed.
Briggs had been outspoken about his battle with depression in recent years, which had resulted in delays in the release of his albums as he dealt with 'burnout.' After a series of 'tragic events' in 2013, when he first came to Europe, he confessed in March 2021 that the previous seven years had been 'tough.' After fans requested him to make more music, Biggs said he sought treatment after growing overwhelmed after taking on too many projects at the start of 2021.
Biggs is remembered by his father Gary, mother Yvonne, sister Jess, stepmother Annmaree, and stepbrothers Grant and Jeremy. Annmaree Biggs, the musician's stepmother, has set up a GoFundMe page to seek funds to transport the musician's body back to Australia.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741).