Jared Mercer Online

This is another update that has nothing to do with my music but I have to put it here as Jay Reatard has died! Only a month and a half ago I saw him play live in Camden and shook his hand after the shows congratulating him on another good performance.  I got into Jay’s music 2 years ago or so when I had a  brief stay in Montreal and acquired his Blood Visions album, who’s title track was short and sweet and to the point and knwocked my socks off.  After getting my hands on his Best of 2006-07 and 2008-09 albums I became and even bigger fan as songs like Night of Broken Glass, Don’t Let Him Come Back, and It’s so Useless completely captured my imagination with their DIY creation.  His last album Watch Me Fall brought a slightly softer side to Jay with gems like Wounded.  But I think my all time favourite Jay Reatard song has to be one he recorded with his old group The Reatards called Breakdown.

It is currently unknown as to how he died, but apparently it was in his sleep. I found out via The Guardian here in the UK and this is what they had to say:

See/Saw from ‘08 compilation

Memphis garage-rocker Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr, aka Jay Reatard, has died. The 29-year-old was found at his home early on Tuesday morning, according to friends. Police have reportedly opened an investigation into his death, which comes less than six months after the release of his breakthrough LP, Watch Me Fall.

Lindsey was one of the most prolific and celebrated artists of today’s lo-fi punk-rock scene. He broke into the Memphis underground at just 15, releasing a demo that caught the ear of Goner Records and then a string of singles and LPs with the Reatards, the Lost Sounds, Final Solutions and as a solo act. When Lindsey’s label, indie powerhouse Matador, joked in his biography that he released “90-something” records, they are probably not far off. As co-owner of Shattered Records, Lindsey also brought many other acts into his noisy, catchy sphere.

Memphis newspaper the Commercial Appeal reports that Lindsey’s room-mate discovered his body at about 3:30am on Tuesday. According to police spokeswoman Jennifer Robinson, Lindsey was in bed and had recently been complaining of flu-like symptoms. While police have opened an investigation into his death, this is a procedural decision and not based on evidence of foul play.

“We are devastated by the death of [Jay],” said Matador spokesman Nils Bernstein. “[He] was as full of life as anyone we’ve ever met, and responsible for so many memorable moments as a person and artist. We’re honoured to have known and worked with him, and we will miss him terribly.”

Goner Records also issued a statement: “It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our good friend Jay Reatard. Jay died in his sleep last night. We will pass along information about funeral arrangements when they are made public.”

Lindsey’s death follows the recent passing of another Memphis icon, Willie Mitchell. Members of the local community were at a memorial service for the soul producer when they heard the news of Lindsey’s death, according to the Commercial Appeal. Beck, for whom Lindsey recorded a B-side, posted his version of Gamma Ray to his website.

As a performer, Lindsey was notorious for his abrasive, often provocative performances. Last December, he was attacked by fans at a gig in Austin, Texas. In his last message to Twitter, posted on Monday afternoon, he offered $100 “per tyre” to anyone who vandalised band Liquor Store’s tour van.

Speaking to Billboard last summer, Lindsey said his new album was about “dealing with mortality issues, growing older, disenchantment with your youth”. The LP, which saw Lindsey shift from punk rock to noisy pop, was “the first record where I’m kind of exiting the dumb kid part of my life and going into the almost-30 point”. Tragically, he will forever remain on that cusp.

I’m pretty sad about this, but that seems always to be the case with rock’n'roll doesn’t it.  At least I managed to see him live before this happened.  Now I better go out and see Pete Doherty perform quick!

Beck and Pixies have paid tribute to Jay Reatard, whose death was announced yesterday (January 13).

The singer died in his sleep and was found by his flatmate in the early hours of Tuesday (12) morning. He was 29.

Beck posted his tribute to the late musician on his official website Beck.com/, streaming Reatard’s cover of ‘Modern Guilt’ track and former single ‘Gamma Ray’.

Listen to the cover at Beck.com/ now.

Pixies, meanwhile, posted a note on their official Facebook page. “We want to express our condolences to the friends and family of Jay Reatard, on his sudden passing today,” they wrote.

Jay Reatard: May 1, 1980 – January 13, 2010

Discography

With The Reatards

Albums

• Teenage Hate LP/CD (1998; Goner)
• Grown Up, Fucked Up LP/CD (1999; Empty)
• Live LP (2004; Goner)
• Bedroom Disasters LP/CD (2004; Empty)
• Not Fucked Enough LP/CD/CD-R (2005; Empty/Shattered)

45s/EPs

• Get Real Stupid 7″ (1998; Goner)
• Get Out Of Our Way 7″ (1999; Blahll!)
• Your So Lewd 7″ (1999; Empty)
• Untitled 7″ (2002; SSLD)
• Monster Child 7″ (2004; Zaxxon)
• Plastic Surgery 7″ (2005; Shattered)
• Totally Shattered Euro Tour 7″ (2005; Split with Angry Angles and Tokyo Electron; Kenrock)
• I Lie Too 7″ (2006; Zaxxon Virile Action)

With The Lost Sounds

Albums

• Memphis Is Dead LP/CD (2001; Big Neck!)
• Black-Wave 2xLP/CD (2001; Empty)
• Rats Brains & Microchips LP/CD (2002; Empty)
• Lost Sounds LP/CD (2004; In the Red)

45s/EPs

• Plastic Skin 7″ (2000; Solid Sex Lovie Doll)
• 1 + 1 = Nothing 7″ (2001; Empty)
• Split 7″ with The Vanishing (2003; Cochon)
• Ice Age 7″ (2004; Holy Cobra Society)
• Future Touch 12″EP/CDEP (2004; In the Red)

Compilations

• Outtakes & Demos Vol. 1 CD-R (2001; Contaminated)
• Outtakes & Demos Vol. 1 LP (2002; Hate)
• Recent Transmissions: Demos & Outtakes Vol. 2 CD (2002; Contaminated)
• Demos II CD (2003; On/On Switch)
• Demos & Outtakes Vol. 2 3×7″ (2004; Rockin’ Bones)

With Bad Times

• Bad Times LP (2001; Goner/Therapeutic)
• Bad Times (Re-Release) CD (2002; Sympathy For The Record Industry)

With The Final Solutions

Albums

• Disco Eraser LP/CD (2003; Misprint)
• Songs by Solutions LP/CD (2007; Goner)

45s/EPs

• Eat Shit 7″ (2002; Therapeutic)
• Eye Don’t Like You 7″ (2005; Shit Sandwich)
• My Love Is Disappointing 7″ (2005; Shattered)
• Return To The Motherland 7″ (2006; Frick & Frack)
• FS/DF 7″ (2007; Jethrow)

With Nervous Patterns

Albums

• Nervous Patterns CD-R/CD/LP (2003/2004; Contaminated/Cochon)

45s/EPs

• You Can’t Change 7″ (2005; Zaxxon)

With Angry Angles

• Things Are Moving 7″ (2005; Shattered)
• Crowds 7″ (2005; P. Trash)
• Totally Shattered Euro Tour 7″ (2005; Split with Angry Angles and Tokyo Electron; Kenrock)
• Split 7″ (2006; Split with Digital Leather; Shattered)
• Apparent-Transparent 7″ (2006; Plastic Idol)

As Terror Visions

• World of Shit LP/CD (2007; FDH)
• Endless Tunnel EP
• Blood in America 7″ (Disordered)

With Destruction Unit

• Self-Destruction of a Man LP/CD (2004; Empty)
• Death to the Old Flesh LP/CD (2006; Empty)

As Jay Reatard

Albums

• Blood Visions LP/CD (2006; In the Red)
• Watch Me Fall LP/CD (2009; Matador)

45s/EPs

• Hammer I Miss You 7″ (2006; Goner)
• Night of Broken Glass 12″ (2007; In the Red)
• Split with the Boston Chinks 7″ (2007; P. Trash)
• In the Dark 7″/6″ (2007; Squoodge)
• I Know a Place 7″ (2007; Goner)
• Blood Demo 7″ (2008; Stained Circles)
• See/Saw 7″ (2008; Matador)
• Painted Shut 7″ (2008; Matador)
• Always Wanting More 7″ (2008; Matador)
• Fluorescent Grey 7″ (2008; Matador)
• Trapped Here 7″ (2008; Matador)
• No Time 7″ (2008; Matador)
• Hang Them All 7″ (2009; Split with Sonic Youth; Matador)
• Telephone Network Voltage 7″ (2009; Split with Thee Oh Sees; Shattered)
• It Ain’t Gonna Save Me 7″ (2009; Matador)

Compilations

• Singles 06-07 LP/CD/DVD (2008; In the Red)
• Matador Singles ‘08 (2008; Matador)
• Greatest Messes [Digital Release] (2009; Shattered)

Compilation appearances

• We Heart The Blowtops – Tribute 7″ [Track: Venom Victims Wine] (2006; Big Neck)