Thursday, January 14, 2010

Well that's it for punk rock

Jay Reatard died last night in his sleep at 29. He was, musically, probably one of the most exciting writer/performers of the 00s, a long-time vet given his early start at 16, but still young enough to promise greatness and, hell, to deliver it more often than not. You didn't have to listen to his songs for very long to notice that they were all about alienation and self-doubt, the laceration wrapped in some of the best actual songs of the last few years. No word on how it happened, but you don't die in your sleep at 29 without help...do you? What a shame.

Haven't been this sad about a rock and roll death since Joe Strummer and he had a comparatively long and happy life.

Here he is doing "Nightmare"

4 comments:

francksauzee said...

I just saw this on blurb when I was looking for your review. Really really sad.

jenniferpkelly said...

It is sad. Such a young guy, and also it seemed like he was pushing really hard to evolve out of the garage punk thing. I wish we'd gotten to see what he came up with for next.

Selfishly, I'm so glad we got to see him in November...what a performer he was.

Syd The Squid said...

such a bummer... iread one report that the police are treating it as murder...

ROCKNROLLPIMP said...

sadness.only the good die young......