Curtis cited guitarists such as Michael Rother, Yoshimi P-We, and The Edge of U2 as some of his primary influences on guitar.

He played a heavily effects-laden spacy style of guitar, reminiscent of late 1960s and early 1970s psychedelic rock.

In the liner notes for School of Seven Bells' final album SVIIB, Deheza refers to Curtis as her "best friend and soulmate.

A benefit concert was held in New York in August 2013 and included performances by members of the Strokes and Interpol.

Curtis died on December 29, 2013, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.