earl broclo ESQ Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 I don't know how many fans are on this board, but I just heard the shitty news that Vic Chestnutt is dead. http://www.spinner.com/2009/12/25/vic-chesnutt-dead-suicide/ The New York Times confirmed on Friday that singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt has indeed passed away at the age of 45, following a brief coma that was the result of an overdose on muscle relaxers earlier this week. Family spokesperson, Jem Cohen, did not specify if the overdose was intentional but Chesnutt, a paraplegic who often sang about death, had admitted in interviews that he had attempted suicide several times before. A tweet written on Thursday morning by his good friend and long-time collaborator, Kristen Hersh, states in part, "this time, he left a note." Entrenched in the Athens, Ga. music scene, Chesnutt was a songwriter's songwriter; he first earned the admiration of R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe in the late '80s and since then was praised by countless other notable songwriters and musicians, many of which eventually collaborated with him. His most recent band included members of Fugazi, Godspeed! You Black Emperor and Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra, but over the years he collaborated with members of Widespread Panic, Cracker, Lambchop, Throwing Muses, M. Ward, Cowboy Junkies and many more. Chesnutt's national profile was elevated in 1996 when his songs were covered by an impressive list of contributors -- including Madonna, R.E.M., Smashing Pumpkins and Garbage -- for a Sweet Relief compilation album that benefited musicians without health insurance. Ironically and tragically, Chesnutt had health insurance and wasn't personally eligible for financial help from Sweet Relief, despite struggling to cover his significant health care costs. A car accident at the age of 18 left Chesnutt in a wheelchair, with a lifetime of complications. He told Spinner earlier this year that "right now, I am in huge trouble in that the hospital is suing me for $35,000 for payment, which is terrifying -- and the rub is that I have health insurance." His heath care debt reportedly totaled more than $50,000 and his struggles with suicide and substance abuse have been well documented. Chesnutt's catalog features 13 studio albums, including this year's critically acclaimed 'At the Cut,' which he was recently out on the road supporting. In a live review of one of those shows, the New York Times noted that Chesnutt's songs were contemplations on "not just mortality but also the broader inevitability of collapse and decay." In an interview with Spinner this past September, Chesnutt admitted that, as an artist, he was difficult to pigeonhole into one specific genre. "I was labeled as alt-country for years but I never saw that at all," he said. "I like it when you're confused by an artist for a minute. I like it when everything popping out of your iPod from a band is not the same crap over and over. That makes me happy." Vic Chesnutt -- both the man and his music -- made many people happy. We will remember him for that, and his songs will continue to give us moments of catharsis and release. R.I.P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TripleSuplex Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 rip to him didnt know about him but if you knew of him musta been cool /nobrownnoser 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnarly Sheen Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Damn, didn't know that. rip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B!G D Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 respect RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhills Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earl broclo ESQ Posted December 27, 2009 Author Share Posted December 27, 2009 didnt know about him He's one of those guys who's music is definitely "Sad Bastard" music. If you don't like folk music that goes on the erratic side of despair, you might not dig him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbMGmsFjhpM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shai Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earl broclo ESQ Posted December 27, 2009 Author Share Posted December 27, 2009 This is a straight no chaser whiskey song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earl broclo ESQ Posted December 27, 2009 Author Share Posted December 27, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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