Jay Reatard’s Death Due To Cocaine & Alcohol
 Jay Reatard |
The recent, sudden death of Memphis garage-rocker Jay Reatard (born Jimmy Lee Lindsey) on January 13 shocked the music community and led to great speculation and rumors as to the cause of death. The official autopsy was recently released with Shelby County Medical Examiner Karen E. Chancellor confirming that the cause of death was “cocaine toxicity, and that alcohol was a contributing factor.”
Words & Images by: L Paul Mann
Ron Asheton Tribute :: 01.13.10 :: The Roxy Theatre :: Los Angeles, CA
 Ron Asheton (press photo) |
One year after his death, this special show in L.A. was a fitting tribute to the Stooges‘ Ron Asheton.
Organized by his 18-year-old niece, Leanna Asheton – whose father is the original Stooges drummer, Scott Asheton – the tribute was a chaotic, low-key showcase of some great new bands, as well as a chameleon jam comprised of a bevy of veteran rock stars. Formed in 1967, the innovative Stooges are widely regarded as helping give birth to punk music. Lead singer Iggy Pop, who may have invented stage diving, became an American pop icon largely due to his antics with the Stooges. The proceeds from the door were donated to the Los Angeles Welfare Trust Fund because of Ron Asheton’s fondness for cats and dogs. The Roxy Theatre on Sunset Strip was perhaps the perfect venue for a tribute to the irreverent Ron Asheton. In the nearly four decades since it opened in 1973, little has changed at the dusty little theatre. The same dingy black curtains open to reveal the well-worn stage. The same dark, dimly lit interior enveloped the crowd, dressed mostly in black garb, an identical scene that has played out over and over since the infamous venue first opened.
The event started out relatively orderly, with great young talent being announced and showcased. Hand picked by Leanna, presumably for their strong edgy sounds akin to the Stooges, there were some great new acts flexing their retro roots. Opening band Billy Boy On Poison played gutsy bluesy rock, belying their youthful appearance. Singer Davis Le Duke led the band in a full rock and roll assault of the Stooges’ classic “Search and Destroy.”
The Entrance Band followed with a more modern but no less intense set of music. Sounding like a cross between The Smashing Pumpkins and My Bloody Valentine, the newfangled trio created a wall of powerful, jam trance rock. Lead singer and guitarist Guy Blakeslee, who plays his guitar upside down and left handed, said, “This is all for Ron.”
 The Entrance Band |
The Southern rock influenced Night Horse played the next set. This Los Angeles-based band sounds a bit like Band of Horses, but with a more traditional Southern blues-rock backbone like The Allman Brothers. The five-piece tore through a short set of hard rocking songs. Lead singer Sam James Velde was joined by Billy Boy’s Davis Le Duke for a blues drenched duet at the end of their set. Velde dedicated the night not only to Asheton, but also to contemporary alt-punk rocker Jay Reatard, who had just died that day.
At this point, in a true punk spirit that Ron Asheton would have probably enjoyed, chaos and confusion prevailed. As the special lineup of rock legends began to congregate onstage, gone were the introductions, leaving the crowd to guess who was actually moving in and out of the ever-changing lineup. Much of the super jam session was led by legendary punk bassist Mike Watt, best known as the founding member of The Minutemen and fIREHOSE. Watt joined the reformed Stooges in 2003. The other most prolific player of the evening was longtime Stooges collaborator Steve Mackay (sax, keys). A revolving mix of drum superstars included Scott Asheton, Jane’s Addiction‘s Stephen Perkins, and Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith.
A parade of singers took the stage to belt out classic Stooges numbers. Mike Jtone of Circus Boy performed in classic Stooges fashion, singing in a trance-like rage. Stage diving, writhing on the floor and kicking instruments about the stage, he raised the ire of Mackay after knocking over his keyboards. Steve Baise, another legendary New York punk bassist, actually played this first barrage of music until he stage dived into the press photographers. Jesse Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal) also played bass before Mike Watt took over.
 Mike Watt |
The guitarists were also mixing it up. Scott Thurston quietly took the stage about the same time as Mike Watt. He replaced another former Stooges guitarist, James Williamson. Thurston, who was the Stooges’ keyboardist from 1973 until their initial break up in 1977, is perhaps best known as the current guitar player for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. As Watt began his portion of the jam, he cheekily asked the crowd, “Does anybody know ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog?’” When an unidentified member of the audience raised his hand, Watt offered him the microphone and the would-be-singer scrambled onstage to perform an impressive rendition of the song with the super group jamming behind him. Then, Watt took over singing duties on other Stooges classics like “1969″ and “I Feel Alright.”
The super jam was followed by the headliner, the Saint Louis-based Living Things. Reminiscent of early Romantics, this hard rocking band has a clean, polished sound that might be destined for the top of the music charts. Led by lead singer Lillian Berlin and his brothers Eve (bass) and Bosh (drums), along with Cory Becker on guitar, this band has been charting music since their 2005 debut, Ahead of the Lions. Looking and sounding every bit like a classic cutting edge rock band, Living Things may be on the brink of mass exposure. The band is slated to appear as the legendary Ramones in the upcoming motion picture The Runaways. The film, scheduled to premiere January 24 at the Sundance Film Festival, is based on the story of the ’70s all-girl band of the same name that launched the careers of Joan Jett and Lita Ford. The band played a frenetic set laced with Stooges songs at the Roxy.
After most of the crowd had departed, there was one final late night set led by an Iggy Pop impersonator, with Scott Asheton back on drums for more Stooges classics.
Continue reading for more pics of the Ron Asheton Tribute…
 Mike Jtone
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 Mike Jtone, Stephen Perkins, Jesse Hughes
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 Billy Boy On Poison
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 Davis Le Duke – Billy Boy On Poison
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 The Entrance Band
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 Steve Mackay
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 Night Horse
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 Scott Thurston
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 Random fan singing “I Wanna Be Your Dog”
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 Chad Smith
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 Stephen Perkins
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 Living Things
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 Living Things
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 Iggy Pop impersonator
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JamBase | Fun House
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Jay Reatard Found Dead At Age 29
 Jay Reatard |
Jay Reatard was found dead today (January 13, 2010). He was 29 years old.
Pitchfork has reported the following note via Goner Records: “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.”
Jay Reatard was born Jimmy Lee Lindsey on May 1, 1980. A prolific musician, he was a leader in the Memphis garage/punk scene and recently experienced his greatest commercial success with 2009′s Matador release Watch Me Fall.
DOUBLE ALBUM FEATURES YO LA TENGO, JAY REATARD, THE CHILLS, MORE
 Yo La Tengo |
On June 11, 2009, musician Chris Knox suffered a life-altering stroke at his home in Grey Lynn, New Zealand. Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox is a celebration of Chris and his music. He was instrumental in bringing New Zealand punk and alternative music to international audiences with Tall Dwarfs, Toy Love, and his solo work. Artists from the U.S. (Jeff Mangum, Yo La Tengo, The Mountain Goats, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Lambchop, Stephin Merritt, Portastatic, Bill Callahan, Lou Barlow, Jay Reatard), New Zealand (The Bats, The Verlaines, The Chills), and the world over have donated their time and talent covering songs from Knox’s extensive catalog so that all proceeds can go towards assisting Chris with his recovery.
Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox is available for download now from the Merge store and the usual digital outlets. The 2-CD limited-edition release will be available in stores on February 23, 2010 but you can pre-order it today and receive the digital download via email after your order is complete.
Visit the Stroke website for updates on Chris Knox, information on all of the artists who contributed their versions of Knox’s songs, and for previews of many of the tracks—originals and covers.
Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox Tracklisting
Disc 1:
1. Jay Reatard – “Pull Down The Shades”
2. The Checks – “Rebel”
3. The Bleeding Allstars – “Ain’t It Nice”
4. Peter Gutteridge – “Don’t Catch Fire”
5. The Chills – “Luck Or Loveliness”
6. David Kilgour – “Nothing’s Going To Happen”
7. The Crying Wolfs – “All My Hollowness To You”
8. Stephin Merritt – “Beauty”
9. Portastatic – “Nostalgia’s No Excuse”
10. The Mint Chicks – “Crush”
11. Jay & Sam Clarkson – “I’ve Left Memories Behind”
12. Sky Green Leopards – “Burning Blue”
13. Shayne Carter – “The Slide”
14. Pumice – “Grand Mal”
15. Hamish Kilgour – “Knoxed Out”
Disc 2:
1. Boh Runga – “Not Given Lightly”
2. Red & Zeke (Feat. Bill Doss and Neil Cleary) – “Bodies”
3. Jeff Mangum – “Sign The Dotted Line”
4. Bill Callahan – “Lapse”
5. Genghis Smith – “Growth Spurt”
6. Yo La Tengo – “Coloured”
7. AC Newman – “Dunno Much About Life But I Know How To Breathe”
8. Alec Bathgate – “Glide”
9. Don McGlashan – “Inside Story”
10. Sean Donnelly – “The Outer Skin”
11. Lambchop – “What Goes Up”
12. The Mountain Goats – “Brave”
13. The Tokey Tones (and friends) – “Round These Walls”
14. The Bats – “Just Do It”
15. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – “My Only Friend”
16. The Finn Family – “It’s Love”
17. Jordan Luck – “Becoming Something Other”
18. The Verlaines – “Driftwood”
19. Lou Barlow – “Song Of The Tall Poppy”
20. The Nothing – “Napping In Lapland”
21. Tall Dwarfs – “Sunday Son”
