Gotye has assured fans he is alive and well after rumours the singer/songwriter had committed suicide circulated on Twitter.com on Sunday (01Jul12).

The Somebody That I Used to Know hitmaker, real name Wouter De Backer, was said to have shot himself in the head, leading devotees to pay tribute to the musician online.

Taking to the microblogging site as the rumours swirled, Gotye assured readers the speculation was untrue, writing, "I'm not dead."

Bandmate Tim Shiel also posted a message and sarcastically poked fun at the situation, adding, "It saddens me to confirm the news of Gotye's passing - he suffered cardiac arrest while flying a unicorn over a double rainbow."