Words Fail.
Tragic news from Illinois courtesy Jim DeRogatis tonight:
Jay Bennett passed away in his sleep last night, no cause determined as yet.
I haven't the words to put to this loss, but I will say that if you only thought of Jay as "one of the guys in Wilco", you gravely underestimated his importance to that band. Bennett was a genius in the studio and at arranging songs, and was a rather formidable talent in his own right--anyone who's heard his post-Wilco solo stuff...or listened to a Titanic Love Affair disc...or seen him playing guitar alongside folks like Tommy Keene....well, they can tell you the real depth of this loss.
Jeff Tweedy has sold quite a few more records as a member of Wilco than his former bandmate Jay Farrar--who maybe came out of Uncle Tupelo with more native talent--ever has as Son Volt. A big part of the reason for that is that Tweedy has never been shy about surrounding himself with equal talents (Wilco bassist John Stirratt gave up a career fronting his own band to join Wilco 15 years ago to join Wilco, for instance) to push him to higher levels and develop his own abilities. Farrar never had a musical genius and competitor and aide-de-camp and challenger and like Bennett in his band.
Huge condolences to those reading this blog who knew him very well. I'm very sad.
Jay Bennett passed away in his sleep last night, no cause determined as yet.
I haven't the words to put to this loss, but I will say that if you only thought of Jay as "one of the guys in Wilco", you gravely underestimated his importance to that band. Bennett was a genius in the studio and at arranging songs, and was a rather formidable talent in his own right--anyone who's heard his post-Wilco solo stuff...or listened to a Titanic Love Affair disc...or seen him playing guitar alongside folks like Tommy Keene....well, they can tell you the real depth of this loss.
Jeff Tweedy has sold quite a few more records as a member of Wilco than his former bandmate Jay Farrar--who maybe came out of Uncle Tupelo with more native talent--ever has as Son Volt. A big part of the reason for that is that Tweedy has never been shy about surrounding himself with equal talents (Wilco bassist John Stirratt gave up a career fronting his own band to join Wilco 15 years ago to join Wilco, for instance) to push him to higher levels and develop his own abilities. Farrar never had a musical genius and competitor and aide-de-camp and challenger and like Bennett in his band.
Huge condolences to those reading this blog who knew him very well. I'm very sad.
posted by Chris H. at
1:24 AM
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