I will being posting various Jay posts that I consider classic. He has been mentioned in over 80 posts on this website, so I’ll repost some of his best here.
Chris
Waiting For Something…
Sorry, I couldn’t post the video here, but there it is. Fuck Youtube! Cool, short doc on Mr. Reatard.
Chris
NPR Says Goodbye
“As most of you know by now, Jay Reatard has died at the age of 29.
It’s a sad day for music, because we lost a guy who made the kind of songs most of us, in our heart of hearts, really love. We love his music because, before we got all worldly and esoteric in our tastes, all we wanted was for our music to rumble and roar, to give us that teenage feeling forever.
Jay Reatard made great rock music; garage-y, fuzzed-out and pounding. Songs like “My Shadow” were staples on a lot of mixes that I made for friends. And I’m listening to “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me” as I type this.
In L.A. tonight, there is a jam for the late Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton. I hope the folks on that bill give a shoutout to Jay Reatard. I don’t know for sure, but I imagine that Reatard was a fan of Asheton. Both were players who had trust in the singular hypnotic engine that is rock ‘n’ roll.
Finally, I saw this video over at Brooklyn Vegan and wanted to share it here, as well. It’s nice to veer into Jay’s world for a bit. Jay Reatard, you will be missed.”- http://www.npr.org/blogs/monitormix/2010/01/jay_reatard_rip.html
I thought that was “nice.” lol Clearly his music had a great effect on many including myself.
Chris
Mark Sultan Not To Tour W/ Black Lips
Too bad. Maybe a U.S tour with the Shrines again? Please?
Memories W/ Jay
I got acknowledged by Jay Reatard twice in my life. Two times in the same night, as a matter of fact. The first was admittedly awkward. I saw Jay walk by before the show (at Harpers Ferry, October 2) so I said to him as he passed, “Hey Jay, I love you man.” I didn’t really notice his reaction, because he kept walking, but some people close to me have said that he smirked. The other meeting occured a short time later; Jay was chilling near the front of the stage so I said “Hey Jay, your last record is really awesome.” He responded! He said, “Thanks, man.” Of course, I was a creep, but whatever!
A Reatarded Week
For the rest of the week I plan to make posts solely about the fallen garage legend. Yes, he was a bit of an asshole, but he was our asshole lol. I’m sure he’s freaking out Jesus and and some wimpy angels in Heaven right now.
The title says it all.
Chris
‘Death Is Forming’
Jay’s song “Death Is Forming” sounds like it was based on a future event — Jay’s actual death.
Alone in a room
Needless I sit
I close my eyes
and try to forget
Death is calling
get in line
Death is forming
Forming death
Death is calling
Death is forming
Forming death
Death is calling
Get in line
An Ugly Death….
Memphis Garage Rocker Jay Reatard Dead at 29
1/13/10, 5:02 pm EST
Memphis garage rocker Jay Reatard, who broke out last year thanks to Watch Me Fall, has died at the age of 29, Reatard’s label Matador Records confirmed. According to Memphis’ Commercial Appeal, Reatard was found dead in his Memphis home at 3:30 am this morning and reportedly died in his sleep. “We are devastated by the death of Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., aka Jay Reatard. Jay was as full of life as anyone we’ve ever met, and responsible for so many memorable moments as a person and artist,” Matador Records said in a statement. “We’re honored to have known and worked with him, and we will miss him terribly.” Watch Reatard perform “Blood Visions” last month in Atlanta in the video above.
“Since 1998’s Teenage Hate, Memphian Jay “Reatard” Lindsey, 29, has spit enough pissed-off, low-fi garage punk to become DIY royalty,” Will Hermes wrote in his three-and-a-half star review of Watch Me Fall. “There’s also choral sugar, dub effects, sweet guitar cascades and mad hooks. On the majestic closer, alongside a sad cello, he insists, ‘There is no sun.’ With sound this blazingly bright, who needs it?”
In 2008, Beck recruited Reatard to record a cover of Modern Guilt’s “Gamma Ray” for the B side of that song’s single. For last year’s Record Store Day, Reatard’s “Hang Them All” was featured on a split 7” with Sonic Youth’s “No Garage.” Reatard also recently opened for the Pixies during their run of Doolittle concerts. On their Facebook page, the Pixies wrote “We want to express our condolences to the friends and family of Jay Reatard, on his sudden passing today.”
– Rolling Stone
RIP Jay, you are immortal through your music, some of the best damn rock and roll my ears have had the privilege of hearing.
Chris
Jay Reatard Dead @ 29
Memphis garage rocker Jay Reatard, who broke out last year thanks to Watch Me Fall, has died at the age of 29, Reatard’s label Matador Records confirmed. According to Memphis’ Commercial Appeal, Reatard was found dead in his Memphis home at 3:30 am this morning and reportedly died in his sleep. “We are devastated by the death of Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., aka Jay Reatard. Jay was as full of life as anyone we’ve ever met, and responsible for so many memorable moments as a person and artist,” Matador Records said in a statement. “We’re honored to have known and worked with him, and we will miss him terribly.”
I’m really stunned. The last two times I saw Jay, he put on an unbelievable show. I’ve been checking daily to see if he was going to be coming back to the area soon, but now I’ll never be able to watch him perform again. That’s tragic, because he was probably the most interesting musician to read about (via his own Facebook statuses, tweets, or on other websites) and listen to. Just on Monday he threatened to kill kids because they slashed his tires. He was just that kind of guy.
Cynical Basterd
Whenever I discuss my sociopolitcaleconmic blah blah blah views with anyone I get two reactions. 1) Quizzical looks and 2) Accusation that I am being far too cynical. Well, perhaps I can explain both here. To start with the latter, I am cynical for a reason: history. If the history of civilization after civilization has taught us anything is that all governments are comprised of lying cocksuckers, as Bill Hicks would say, some worse than others, of course. So, I do not think mine or anyone else’s cynicism is off base or uncalled for by any standards. Cynicism should never be confused with pessimism. In fact, quite the contrary. We, cynical basterds see through the hallow walls of government indoctrination and try to push forward to new and better ways of thinking and living. I would say that’s an optimistic way to think. In brief, cynicism is not a bad thing if you have reason and hope on your side. When discussing such topics I’m reminded of the classic Noam Chomsky/Mr. Lang quote, “If you’re not cynical, you’re not paying attention.”
Chris
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 