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Jay Bennett?
I am hearing rumors that he has died. Any confirmation on this?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kim Ruehl on -
Just logged on to check email and received an email that Bennett had died. Quick Google search just gave way to Wikipedia, which shows that he died in his sleep after hip replacement surgery. Of course, that's Wikipedia. This is also being reported by Undertow Media but, so far, nobody else. Nobody in the press trailer at this music festival has any info on this, either.
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Permalink Reply by Janice Brooks on -
http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2009/05/jay_bennett_dead_at_age_4...
Jay Bennett, a rock musician with deep ties to Chicago best known as a
former member of Wilco, died early Sunday morning in downstate Urbana,
where he had been running a recording studio, according to a spokesman
for his family.
The singer and multi-instrumentalist was 45 years old.
"Early this morning, Jay died in his sleep and an autopsy is being
performed," said Edward Burch, a friend and musician who collaborated
with Bennett on the 2005 album "The Palace at 4 a.m." "The family is
in mourning and is unavailable for comment at this time."
Born in the Chicago suburb of Rolling Meadows, Bennett began playing
in bands as a teenager. He attended the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign and earned multiple degrees in secondary education,
math and political science. In between, he co-founded the Replacements-
like power-pop band Titanic Love Affair, which released three albums
during the alternative-rock heyday between 1991 and 1996, when it was
dropped from its label.
Bennett was working at a VCR repair shop in Champaign when he was
tapped to join Wilco as it toured in support of its first album,
"A.M." A talented arranger and versatile musician who could play
virtually any instrument he picked up, from mandolin to Mellotron,
Bennett formed a fruitful partnership with Wilco bandleader Jeff
Tweedy. His contributions over a seven-year period were key to the
albums that resulted in the band's national breakthrough, including
"Being There" (1996), "Summerteeth" (1999) and "Yankee Hotel
Foxtrot" (2002).
Relations between Bennett and Tweedy, both painstaking perfectionists,
soured during the latter recording, as documented in the film "I Am
Trying to Break Your Heart," and Bennett left the band. Earlier this
month, Bennett filed a lawsuit against Tweedy for breach of contract
and unpaid artist's royalties, stemming in part from his role in the
film.
In late April, Bennett wrote on his MySpace blog about dealing with
intense pain from a hip injury suffered during a dive from the stage
while playing with Titanic Love Affair. He was preparing to have
surgery, but was concerned about his lack of health insurance.
However, he also was looking forward to finishing his fifth solo
album, "Kicking at the Perfumed Air," at his studio, Pieholden Suites,
named after the song on "Summerteeth" that best encapsulates his
talents as an arranger.
"This whole experience [with the hip pain] has really taught me to
look both inward and outward for support, and I've learned things
about myself that I thought I had completely figured out years ago,"
Bennett wrote. "Family and friends have helped me to keep faith in a
future that will actually be much more carefree than my constricted
present state. I encourage you all to tell me stories of recovery, as
they really do help... All in all, I'm 'in a really good place' right
now; I'm just waiting until I can make it all happen."
Bennett's former bandmates in Wilco are touring in Spain and could not
be reached for comment. But Burch said he had spoken to bassist John
Stirratt, and the band was "broken up" about the news.
"He was an extremely talented musician and a great person, and I'll
miss him terribly," Burch added.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Sweeney on -
Terribly sad news. Sincere condolences to his loved ones.
Thanks for all the great music, Jay. You're already missed.
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Permalink Reply by James Baumann on -
Very sad indeed. The following is the official message from Jay's listserv / Undertow:
Our good friend Jay Walter Bennett left us this weekend. As news hits the wires so instantaneously these days, we thought it was important to share some thoughts about our friend and brother before any rumors got out of hand.
First, let it be known that Jay was in a really good place these past few years. He had returned to the area he loved--the “Twin Cities,” Champaign-Urbana--and resurrected his studio, Pieholden Suite Sound, with the assistance of many dear friends and allies. Jay had been busy making music. He recently had released an intimate record entitled “Whatever Happened I Apologize,” and he was looking forward to wrapping up his new work, “Kicking at the Perfumed Air.” Proud of finishing a trilogy of records, including “Bigger Than Blue,” “The Beloved Enemy,” and “The Magnificent Defeat,” Jay loved the balanced yet ironic album titles. He was also looking forward to engineering and releasing Titanic Love Affair’s previously unreleased record, as well as starting work on “The Palace at 4 a.m. Part II,” the follow-up to his post-Wilco debut with Edward Burch. “Jay the Academic” had also reemerged, pursuing his umpteenth degree at the University of Illinois, and he was thrilled to be taking graduate classes again.
As many of you may be aware, Jay had finally found the courage to put his Wilco issues out into the public forum. After a long, four-year process (and therefore very much unrelated to his impending hip surgery), formal filings against Wilco were finally initiated. This task was very emotional for Jay. He was a “lover,” and this confrontation was not easy for him. With the exception of his final period in Wilco, Jay looked back on his time in the band with great fondness and pride. While he was dismayed that some people may have formed a narrow perception of him via the “documentary,” all who truly knew him understood that with most entertainment media, editing is usually constructed for dramatic effect and presents only a small part of a larger, more complex reality.
So, please spend some time this week engaging in Jay’s favorite passions: listen to a Nick Lowe album, watch some Mythbusters on Discovery, play Warren Zevon’s “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner,” rent Pay It Forward (one of his favorite movies), write a song with the TV on and the sound off, and focus on how Jay always concluded his communications:
“Love, Jay.”
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Permalink Reply by kelly pardekooper on
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This is sad news. He was such a sweet man. Did a show with him in Iowa City at Gabe's Oasis shortly after the Wilco break-up. He was playing as a duo, chain smoking and kinda stoned...but very funny. He added the pop lush beauty to Summerteeth etc and his musical contribution marked my fave Wilco sounds. RIP.
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Permalink Reply by Midwestern Lull on -
i was on the road, away from any media source, so i am late in hearing of Jay's passing. im shocked and devistated. on wednesday i was driving through champaign IL.(Jay's hometown) listening to a mix cd when his song "shakin sugar" came on. i thought of jay...pictured him huntched over a mixing board, in the thick of it. had a conversation with him in my head about writing songs for "mermaid ave". been driving for hrs with little sleep, so the whole thing was dreamy almost. when i finally made it home i fired up the computer and checked my e-mail. the news about Jay just knocked me down. he was a true genious. what a loss. period. my heart goes out to his family and friends and fans. i idolized the man. his music helped me through some of the darkest times of my life. i cant thank him enough for sharing it with the world. rest in peace, Jay.
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Permalink Reply by David Shaw on -
I watched I Am Trying to Break Your Heart again over the past couple of evenings ... after Jay explains his reasons for having left Wilco the film goes into a solo performance by Jay which segues into the four remaining members wandering about with Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. I had no idea that Leroy Bach and Jay knew each other so many years before they ended up together in Wilco.
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